Men in Craigavon, County Armagh, are using weekly football sessions to talk about addiction, isolation and mental health. The charity Just a Chat organises the games, which are intended as a first step toward wider support. Its co-founder Conor Hegarty recently walked barefoot to the summit of Slieve Donard to raise funds for the group.

Conor Hegarty completed the barefoot trek in August after discussions with fundraisers from Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast. He said the walk took about two and a half hours and he reached the top without any cuts, despite rain and cold conditions. He described the experience as a metaphor for taking first steps and focusing on the ground immediately ahead rather than the whole task.

Just a Chat was founded by Conor Hegarty and his wife Amy in 2022 after they met a young person in distress and found it difficult to access support. Conor Hegarty said that leaving an emergency department with only a support plan is not enough to change someone's life. The charity creates opportunities for people to connect before encouraging them to seek further help.

Participant Ben Terry joined the football sessions after completing residential treatment for drug, alcohol and gambling addiction. He said he experienced suicidal thoughts and that leaving the treatment programme brought fears and confusion. He said the weekly gatherings gave him a safe place to speak openly. Terry has been in addiction recovery for nearly four years and said he has reunited with his partner and son, become debt-free and found contentment.

Neil Cochrane said he started attending after remote work left him isolated and drinking more than he should. He said the group helped him become active, socialise and reconnect with people. He now teaches drama classes and has worked on television productions including Blue Lights and Say Nothing.

Northern Ireland's Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O'Neill, said the men's experiences reflect wider pressures on mental health services. Public Health Agency figures show emergency department presentations for suicidal ideation increased by 74 per cent. Professor O'Neill said community-based crisis support, similar to a model used in Scotland, could reduce pressure on emergency departments and save around 9 million pounds each year in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health said people presenting to emergency departments with suicidal thoughts or in mental health crisis are assessed by specialist teams and leave with an agreed care and safety plan. A planned regional mental health crisis service will strengthen crisis care but requires additional funding.

Just a Chat's services cover the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon area but the charity says it will not turn anyone away based on postcode. Money raised through the barefoot trek will go toward support groups for men, women and young people.