Check Mate | Men’s Mental Health
Connecting with others could be the turning point you need!
(Image donated by Farming Community Network)
Check-Mate is an initiative developed by Wellmoor to raise awareness about men’s mental health and signpost support in the North-East Dartmoor and Okehampton area.
We aim to reduce stigma, promote conversation, and encourage men (especially those in rural industries) to access help when they need it. This is especially important as rural communities often struggle to open up or find mental health services, and local suicide rates are consistently higher than the national average.
So get talking, check in on your mates, and use our directory below to find some local support where you might need it.
If you'd like to support the Check-Mate project, contact:
📞 01647 478378
📧 camilla@wellmoor.org.uk
Okehampton Area
Okehampton Wellbeing Café
Wellbeing drop in every Monday 5pm - 7pm
📍 St James Street
📞 07455 156423
📧 wellbeingcafe@my-way.org.ukWellbeing Walks
Every Tuesday and Wednesday in Simmons Park, Okehampton
🌐 https://devonconnect.org/profile/wellbeing_2247
📞 Chris Baines – 07917 795072📧 wellbeingwalksoke@gmail.com
Weekly Mental Wellbeing Drop-in
Saturdays, 10am–12pm at Okehampton Medical Centre
(18+ only – co-facilitated by Community Links and the PCN)
Men in Sheds Okehampton
Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, 10am–4pm at the Community Garden
🌐 okeshed.org.uk
📧 theshedders@okeshed.org.ukWho Let the Dads Out?
2nd Saturday of the month, 10am–12pm
📍 All Saints Church, Okehampton
📧 alltogetherokehampton@gmail.comMen’s Café
Wednesdays mornings at Sticklepath Stores & CaféAndy’s Man Club
Every Monday at 7pm
📍Granite Way Cafe, Klondyke Rd, Okehampton, EX20 1EW
Chagford
Chagford Community Allotment
Wednesdays, 10:30am–12:30pm
📧 nickygradyscott@protonmail.com
Moretonhampstead
Community Shed
Men’s only session every Thursday
📞 01647 478378
🌐 Moretonhampstead Community Shed — WellmoorHealth Walks
Tuesdays, 10:30am – Court Street Car Park
(Alternating short and longer walks)
📞 01626 215751
Wellmoor Community Allotment
Wednesdays, 2:30–4:30pm
📧 torie@wellmoor.org.ukFriendly Fridays – Wellbeing Warm Hub Café
Fridays, 10am–12pm (winter months)
📍 Community Club
📧 torie@wellmoor.org.uk
Teign Valley
Men in Sheds – Embercombe
Thursdays, 9:30am–12:30pm
📧 teignvalleyshed@gmail.com
Support for the Farming Community
Farming Community Network (FCN)
Drop-in: Fridays, Exeter Livestock Market
🌐 fcn.org.uk
📧 help@fcn.org.ukDevon Young Farmers Club
Chagford, Okehampton, Newton Abbot, Kenn Valley, Cheriton & Tedburn
📧 admin@devonyfc.co.uk
📞 01647 24120
🌐 devonyfc.co.ukDartmoor Hill Farming Project
“Big Breakfasts” events
📞 01822 890913
Farming Support Helplines
RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution)
Farming Community Network (FCN)
📞 03000 111 999 (7am–11pm daily)
Crisis Support & Helplines
If you are in immediate danger or require urgent medical attention, call 999.
If you are feeling unsafe, have consistently been feeling low, or are thinking of harming yourself, below are some options of who might be able to help:
Devon First Response Service
The First Response Service is operated by Devon Partnership NHS Trust and offers immediate support for individuals experiencing mental health crises, including anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or other urgent emotional distress. It is available all year round, 24 hours a day, for adults living in Devon (excluding Plymouth) and is accessible to anyone aged 18 and above.
🌐Service details | Devon Partnership NHS Trust
📞111 - select the mental health option
Samaritans
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
📞116 123 (freephone)
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
Helpline offering a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. Open overnight from 6pm to midnight every day.
📞0800 587 0800
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
Confidential support for under-35s at risk of suicide and others who are concerned about them. Open daily from 9am–midnight.
📞0800 068 41 41 or 07860039967 (text)
TALKWORKS
TALKWORKS is a free and confidential NHS Talking Therapies service, here to help adults over the age of 18 across Devon (outside Plymouth), improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
Narcotics Anonymous
If you have a problem with drugs, Narcotics Anonymous are here to connect you with others in the same situation, and help you get and stay clean. Their helpline is open every day 10:00am - midnight.
📞0300 999 1212
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Provides listening services, information and support for anyone who needs to talk, including a web chat.
📞0800 58 58 58
MANKIND Initiative
confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers. Providing information and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. This can range from physical violence or object throwing to abuse such as constant bullying or insults.
Confidential helpline open Monday – Friday 10am to 4pm (excluding bank holidays)
📞0808 800 1170 (free phone)
📞01823 334 244 (helpline)
Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services
Supports all survivors aged 13+ of sexual violence or exploitation, regardless of when the abuse occurred. Although support is available to anybody, the Helping to Heal initiative focuses on supporting men specifically to safely engage with services. Specialist Support (for all genders) offers trauma-informed one-to-one sessions, 8-week stabilisation groups or advocacy to help survivors build coping skills and navigate services. Therapeutic support may be offered following specialist support, depending on readiness and goals.
📞0808 500 2222 (Rape and Sexual Abuse 24/7 Support Line)