Mental health: Father-of-two on mission to get people in Portsmouth talking with new walking group

Marcus Tisson was left devastated when his mother Margaret took her own life in 2016 at Mile End underground station in London.

His father Winston, who also suffered from mental health issues, died just a month later and Marcus started his ‘Don’t Suffer In Silence’ campaign to encourage people to be more open about their struggles.

The 41-year-old said: ‘If my parents hadn’t died I probably wouldn’t be doing what I am doing now but now I just want to make them proud and do something for mental health as their legacy.’

After moving to Portsmouth earlier this year to become a teaching assistant at The Harbour School in Tipner, Marcus was determined to carry on his mental health work and has started up a walk and talk group with girlfriend Sandra Hunt at the Gaiety Bar.

Marcus said: ‘We have started the group since lockdown because I think a lot of people have struggled even more because of the pandemic.

‘We had a range of ages and people come along and we started off with bingo to get people to relax and then people really opened up. It is a chance to get things off your chest to people you didn’t know before and realise that you aren’t alone.

‘We also do a walk along the seafront which I think is so good because exercise and fresh air is really good for the mind.’

He is also getting ready to host a Stand Up 4 Mental Health comedy night with comedian Joe Wells and a music performance from Blue’s Simon Webbe.

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Marcus added: ‘I think comedy is great for mental health because you can escape for a laugh or two. The event will also raise money for the homeless which I think is so important especially around Christmas time.’

A walk and talk group will be held at the Gaiety Bar in Southsea on Saturday from 1pm.

The Stand Up 4 Mental Health comedy night will take place on December 10.

For more information on both visit Don’t Suffer In Silence on Facebook.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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