Connect Outdoors, a newly established charity, is being formally introduced through an International Men’s Day event at the Venture Centre in Maughold, where approximately 80 participants are expected to engage in various outdoor activities. The organization aims to leverage natural environments to address men’s mental health challenges and combat social isolation through programming that includes cold-water swimming, archery, hill walking, and breathwork.
The charity’s leadership emphasizes the importance of developing mental health support that has been shaped by input from men themselves, rather than applying existing service models. Chief executive Kate Bergquist highlighted the therapeutic potential of the local landscape, advocating for outdoor activities to become a standard component of regular health and wellbeing practices. The charity operates on principles of “green and blue health,” which promotes the use of natural settings such as forests, beaches, and coastal areas to enhance overall wellness.
The programming includes activities such as high ropes courses, bushcraft, mindfulness sessions, breathwork exercises, yoga, archery, ice baths, and guided walks, with informal gathering spaces intended to facilitate social connection among participants. A key strategic element involves encouraging conversation and peer support without making mental health treatment the primary focus of promotional messaging. During the inaugural event, attendees will be asked to complete surveys designed to gather data about which activities and engagement approaches prove most effective for men.
Supporting the initiative are individuals with relevant expertise and experience. Gary Thomas, who operates Walking for Wellness and leads Manx hill walks, noted that many individuals find conversation easier in outdoor settings compared to traditional counselling environments. Joshua Moore, a barber in Douglas who completed suicide prevention training through the Lions Barber Collective, emphasized the unique role barber shops play as comfortable spaces where men discuss serious concerns. Moore stressed the importance of early intervention and community-wide efforts to support mental health conversations.
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