A Bromley firefighter has turned a mental health walk started in Beckenham Place Park into a nationwide support network with 18 groups across the UK.
Dean Corney, who boasts 23 years of service, launched Walk & Talk 999 in 2021 after his own experiences with poor mental health led him to consider what support could help others facing similar challenges.
The initiative was created to provide a safe, non-clinical space where people, particularly men in the emergency services, could talk openly, reduce feelings of isolation and access support before reaching crisis point.
Walk & Talk 999 began as a single weekly walk that brought together men working in the emergency services, armed forces and NHS to talk openly in a relaxed outdoor setting.
Dean said the initiative was designed to provide a space where people could share their experiences without judgement and connect with others who understood the unique pressures of their jobs.
He added: “We started it for men in the services so we could talk to like-minded people who get the life we live.
“We had a few guys turn up on our walk who benefitted from it, and very quickly we were getting people opening up, a lot of them saying it was the first time they’d ever shared anything.”
What started as one walk in south east London has grown into a nationwide network, with 18 walks now taking place across the UK and more in development.
The project is run entirely by volunteers, with more than 36 walk leaders giving up their time each week to support others in their communities.
Dean said the rapid growth highlighted the demand for non-clinical mental health support and showed how many people were looking for opportunities to talk.
“Now we have 18 walks nationally across the UK and we’re continuing to grow, with conversations taking place every week with more people wanting to start walks,” said Dean.
“The fact that it grew so rapidly and still continues, it shows you the need as well.”
Dean said the inspiration for Walk & Talk 999 came from his own struggles with mental health following a serious incident he attended in 2016.
Despite years of experience in the fire service, he found it difficult to admit he was struggling and believes many men face similar barriers when seeking help.
He said there remains a culture of “manning up”, particularly within the emergency services, where workers are often viewed as heroes and can feel pressure to appear resilient.
“I certainly didn’t want to admit that I was struggling because I’d been in the job a long time,” Dean said.
“I think we have the added pressure of being seen as heroes. It’s almost like, this is what I signed up for, I have to be alright because if I say I’m not okay, where does that leave me?”
Reflecting on his own experiences, he said: “It took me many, many years for me to sit back and go, ‘Do you know what? I’m human.'”
Looking back on how far Walk & Talk 999 has come, Dean said the success of the project is both humbling and overwhelming.
While he is proud of what has been achieved, he is keen to credit the volunteers and attendees who have helped build the initiative into a nationwide community.
He hopes the project will continue expanding organically and reach more people who may benefit from having someone to talk to. “When I think about it, it’s quite overwhelming, but in a massively positive way,” Dean said.
“I’m under no illusion, it’s thanks to everyone turning up from the community and the walk leaders who give up their time each week that makes this possible.”
Looking ahead, Dean said: “If one person reads that, feels less alone and is encouraged to get support, it’s worth it.”
The Bromley firefighter whose mental health walks grew into a nationwide project – Yahoo News UK
