Expansions for The Inner Man Project & mental health market planned

“Talking with our men as individuals and as a group. So if people are actually struggling within the group we pull them aside and give them resources if they ask and give them advice if they need it,” Cockerill said.

In the meantime, Six One Six Entertainment has donated their space to host the in-person peer sessions on Sundays at 7 pm.

Cockerill says that space is growing every single Sunday. In the last session, about 33 men attended, including returnees. And when they get their own community space, they will host more than one session a week.

The Inner Man Project is also expanding throughout the province.

“Starting on December 1, we will be at Grand Prairie and Edmonton. And we have two great gentlemen Kyle Kennedy and Mason Rabinovitch who will be running those peer sessions for us,” he added.

Co-founder Dylan Eckes says they will also be launching a personal development program for men in the new year. As well as family, women, and youth programs.

“At the end of the day we figure we have the communication, we have the empathy part of our core values pretty down pat with the connections between the men and our support chat. But right now we’re looking for that purpose, so anything to increase personal development in their mindset, growth, and help them with their mental health,” Eckes said.

The Inner Man Project is also hosting a mental health market next month.

“Unmask Masculinity” mental health market will bring the community together according to co-founder Melissa Eckes.

She says the market will feature local vendors and community resources for mental health.

There will also be a vendor offering free haircuts.

As well as a job hiring booth, clothing donation booth for men’s clothing, and on-site counselling.

Eckes says they took part in the Hatter’s Helping Hatters mental health market earlier this month.

That was organized by Emily Wallin at the Redcliff Legion.

“Being part of her event we saw how positive it was for the community as well so we had talked to her and we just wanted to see if we could do something on a bigger scale so more people could come, and more people could access the resources that we do have in Medicine Hat. I think right now our community needs something positive so we’re hoping this will have a positive light, especially around the holidays when it’s a tough time for a lot of people,” she said.

The Inner Man Project Mental Health Market is on November 21 and 22 at the stampede grounds. It takes place from 11 am – 6 pm both days.

It’s free, but cash donations will go towards funding The Inner Man Project Foundation Centre.

They will also be collecting toys, for the Inner Man Project Christmas Toy Run in December.

The Inner Man Project: Facebook

The Inner Man Project: Twitter or by searching @innermanyxh

The Inner Man Project on Instagram can be found by searching @innermanyxh

Their email is innermanyxh@gmail.com

by Chantal Wagner

Expansions for The Inner Man Project & mental health market planned

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