Runcorn friends set up coffee club to support men's mental health in memory of their mate who took his own life

A coffee club to support men’s mental well-being has been set up in Runcorn in memory of a young man who took his own life.

Curt’s Coffee Club has been named after Curt Enamu, a 20-year-old who lost the will to live after becoming addicted to drugs.

Keelan Densmore and Paul Humphries, friends of Curt’s, recently started the group which will meet fortnightly at Chi Community Café in Phoenix Park Avenue.

And Keelan says: “The response to the first meeting last week was amazing. We had 26 people turn up which was a surprise; we were blown away by it.

“It shows how great the need is for something like this.”

He adds: “A lot of men are affected by mental health issues and we wanted to have somewhere where people could go and talk, or just listen, where they could realise they weren’t alone.”

The men set up the club after Keelan’s own struggle. He says: “Curt was my best friend, and he was in a bad way from taking drugs. He got told he was going to die so, in 2018, he took his own life. And it hit me hard.

“I was in a downward spiral after that, heading the same way as him and, although I wasn’t suicidal, it was a terrible time. I used to go out excessively, drinking and taking drugs as a way of blocking out the pain of losing a friend.

“I was partying my way to oblivion. I wasn’t myself, and I needed to get help.

“It was my family and Paul, who was also a close friend of Curt’s, who made me realise what I was doing and I got in to rehab. I felt like my life was over – and now I’ve got it back. I haven’t touched drink or drugs for 18 months.”

Keelan and Paul

Now Keelan, a 24-year-old delivery driver, and Paul, 25, want to make sure that when anyone else is feeling low or struggling there is somewhere they can go, and people they can turn to.

“There’s not always a lot going on in Runcorn and people tend to work all week and go out at weekend, and you can fall into a trap.

“There’s been another local suicide recently – it happens far too often.

“Paul came up with the idea of a coffee club where men could meet up, and I set up the page on Instagram. We found the Chi Community Café as the place to meet and they were kind enough to provide free coffee – and other drinks – for an hour.

Curt

“Everyone struggles from time to time and men, especially, find it hard to talk and open up. There’s this macho façade that people feel they have got to live up to. But talking to others can help. I was messed up and it helped me through my bad times, I always say it’s better out than in.

“Even if you just listen, you’re supporting someone.”

And Keelan adds: “It is a coffee club because we wanted to get away from this idea that you have to have a drink, a beer, to have a good time!”

Initially Curt’s Coffee Club will be a place where people can come together for a coffee, to chat and support each other, a ‘family unit’ where they feel comfortable and where they won’t be judged.

But Keelan and Paul want to expand the group, setting up walks and cycle challenges, and getting involved with charities by raising funds.

The pair are taking a Mental Health First Aid Course so they are better able to support those who attend, or direct them to other avenues of help. And, eventually, they want to get counsellors on board and are already setting up links with Sean’s Place mental health service in Sefton, after it offered to help.

They have set up their Instagram Page as well as a Mental Health First Aid page which offers help within 48 hours to anyone who needs it.

Keelan says: “It’s baby steps at the moment, it’s just the beginning, but we’d like eventually like to have our own place or facility and, going off the number of people who turned up last week and the response we got, that’s something we might need.

“We have been encouraged by messages from people from all over the country who want to set up their own safe zones. It’s about getting people, men, together to talk about the thing that’s not talked about.

“We’re not mental health gurus, just two lads who want to help people. It’s a nice idea that will hopefully do a lot of good, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

* The next coffee club will meet on Saturday, February 5, from 11am-12pm.