'A Viking support group helps me feel less alone'

A man says a global mental health support group that "channels the Viking state of being" has helped him to feel less alone.

The Midgard Vikings Brotherhood aims to provide a space for men to come together and support each other to overcome difficulties they face.

Kevin Lyndon from Bulkington, Warwickshire, joined the group six months ago after struggling to balance friendships and family life.

Members are encouraged to display the values of "the Viking way", such as respecting one another, forging strong bonds, and growing facial hair. And that, Mr Lyndon said, had created "an open and happy place", where making friends and fundraising for charity had "a fantastic effect" on mental health.

Mr Lyndon said the group regularly chatted on instant messaging platforms, about all sorts of topics.

"There's people from all walks of life, with all different hobbies so there is always someone there who you can reach out to and talk to," he added.

"You go on there and have a bit of a rant and find out there's 50 or 60 other people in the same boat as you.

"You know it's not you, you're not failing, it's something that everybody is going through."

He said the group "offered comfort", as well as "camaraderie, brotherhood and banter".

Mr Lyndon recently met some of his fellow Brotherhood members for the first time at a gig in Blackpool.

"It was nice to finally meet them but I felt like I'd known them all my life and we instantly clicked."

He added that the support group planned to host a gathering for members from across the world in York next year and said the only requirement to join the group was "any type of facial hair".

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