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The Leeds ‘dog walk and talk’ group raising awareness for LGBTQ+ mental health

The events will raise money for LGBTQ+ mental health charity MindOut and provide a safe space for walkers

Sophie Smith - 15th November 2021

A new 'dog walk and talk' group has been launched in Leeds with a focus on mental health and wellbeing.

Dog walkers from the Leeds LGBT+ Dog Walkers group have created an inclusive space to openly talk about mental health.

After Tom Mansell passed away in 2020 after battling depression, friends of the property entrepreneur wanted to raise money for mental health charities and help others to speak out about their internal battles.

If you are used to getting out and about with your four-legged friend you will know how refreshing it can be to get outdoors early in the mornings or late at night and reflect.

But it can also be an overwhelmingly lonely period for some, so creating a safe space for anyone to come along and speak honestly about their wellbeing and mental health will go a long way.

The Leeds LGBT+ Dog Walkers have officially assigned three of their walks as 'walk and talk' events, and you don't even need a dog to attend the mental-health-focused events.

The walks will raise money for MindOut, a mental health charity for the LGBTQ+ community over a period of six weeks but the walkers have another goal in mind too.

The group wants to show people that they're not alone, particularly those within the LGBTQ+ community.

Danny Silk, posted the launch of the walk and talk events, stating that:

"Tom was a well known person in Leeds and his family and friends loved and miss him dearly.

There’s a lot of stigma surrounding suicide and depression, we are hoping to create a safe space once a month during and after our walks where we will be sitting down for a coffee to talk or just listen about other people’s experiences with the above."

The first 'dog walk and talk' event was held over the weekend, where Leeds Mind and Tom's family attended to show their support and raise awareness for community mental health services.

The dog walking group already have a Facebook group of 300 members and regularly enforce this feeling of belonging through shared memes and advice about their dogs.

The group hold weekly dog walking events, meeting at mutually agreed locations around Leeds city centre.

To join the Leeds LGBT+ Dog Walkers on their 'walk and talk' events in memory of Tom Mansell, or to simply show your support for the cause, visit their dedicated Facebook page.

Feature Image- Leeds LGBT+ Dog Walkers