Hallmark collaborates with Andy’s Man Club to help raise awareness of mental health issues

With suicide being the biggest killer of men under 50, Andy’s Man Club is a peer to peer support group for men, whose aim is to reduce the male suicide rate in the UK.

Andy’s Man Club was formed in early 2016 by Halifax rugby league player Luke Ambler after his brother-in-law took his own life. The group now have 48 clubs across the UK and growing.

Emma Bragg, Hallmark UK/ROI Writing Director said, “The statistics on male suicide in the UK are shockingly high, and while we already offer a range of cards which offer support, we were aware that there needed to be greater diversity in offering products aimed at male consumers. We heard about the great work being done by Andy’s Man Club and approached them about partnering on a card collaboration.”

Hallmark wanted to get the tone of voice just right due to the sensitive nature and the specific messages to be conveyed. The card collection includes one

that reads, ‘You can always talk to me and not just about football’, another reads ‘No matter what you’ll always be a total legend’, and one that simply

says ‘I love you man’.

Emma said: “We felt it was important to keep the card dialogue as open as possible so they could be sent for any reason, or no reason at all, to offer

support and encouragement to a friend who may need it. The work being done by Andy’s Man Club to support men’s mental health is just amazing, and we’re very proud to be able to play a part in helping them to achieve their aim of reducing the male suicide rate in the UK.”

Andrew Greenway, Andy’s Man Club Project Development Champion, said. “We’re delighted to be partnering with Hallmark as they release a range of mental health themed greeting cards. Andy’s Man Club are always on the lookout for innovative ways to reach men and we’d like to thank Hallmark for their initiative on this campaign. A greeting card sent to a man suffering from loneliness, depression, anxiety or any Mental Health related disorder could potentially be uplifting and could be the lifeline needed to support any man.”