A NEW mental health hub has opened in Runcorn Shopping City by a man who experienced devastating lows.

Brian Crane has opened THRIVE with the aim of sharing the solutions and tools that led him from darkness to a happy life.

The 45-year-old faced crippling mental health challenges for many years, and looking back at his life, Brian now says the unresolved trauma and feelings of failure began when he was around 16 years of age.

At this age, Brian got let go from Liverpool FC where he played alongside names such as Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard.

Following this, Brian perceived his life as one of ‘unfilled potential’, and combined with learned behaviours from home in his childhood, such as shouting, frustration and anger,  this all contributed to his mental state.

Using substances as a crutch for more than 16 years he led a party life in which he abused both drugs and alcohol which affected his long-term PHYSICAL health.

He was at a point of feeling completely lost, and suicidal with no way out. 

After attending a paid men’s mental health retreat as a last resort, Brian was taken on a journey and taught to release past traumas.

He gained ‘magical, amazing tools to implement into life’.

He now knows he lived with underlying mental health issues his whole life and did not understand it or know how to manage it.

He learnt the power of meditation, men’s sharing circles, cold water therapy, yoga, breathwork and other techniques.

Following the trip, Brian decided to come back to his own community and help as many men as possible with walking workshops.

Now, Brian has opened his own base at Runcorn Shopping City to support other men with mental health struggles.

Brian said: “After attending a men’s mental health retreat I felt like a new person.

“I had found my purpose and decided to dedicate all of my time to ensuring that the tools I had been equipped with were passed onto others in need. 

“At THRIVE we create a men's day to get out.

“It's to forget about everything that's going on, all the bills that are coming through the door, any relationship problems, issues with the children at home, any of which can tip us over the edge. 

“We have men coming on the walks who are battling with negative thinking, depression, substance abuse; using cocaine, cannabis, alcohol – we are here for anybody who needs support and love and understanding.

“I’d like THRIVE to be the positive difference that empowers men to be happy and to pass it onto their kids as a ripple effect.

“We’re here to show that bad times pass and you don’t need to lean on using anger and other substances be that alcohol, drugs, gambling as coping mechanisms.”

While out in nature the groups walk, talk, and use various techniques to clear the mind, ready to move attendees on into a new month. The walks always take place on the first Sunday of every month.

Thrive will be home to motivational speakers, yoga classes, meditation sessions, life therapy and music sound baths.