THE UK's first ‘brain gym' has opened in Dudley primarily for men in the local area who ‘want to sort their head out' but do not want to speak to a therapist about their problems.
Dr Emily Barney launched Spartannn Brain Gym in Brierley Hill this week which provides special one-to-one personal training for mental fitness.
This revolutionary approach to men's mental health replaces a therapist with a trainer and combines modern psychotherapeutic methods with the most up to date knowledge of how the brain works.
Spatannn Brain Gym delivers practical brain exercises in a simple and effective ‘power hour' to build mental strength, power, and endurance so the individual can lead a ‘fuller and better life'.
The gym is run from Lions Amateur Boxing Club in Brierley Hill and clients already include former Great Britain boxing coach, Bob Dillon, who has coached some of GB's most successful Olympians including Amir Khan, James DeGale, Luke Campbell, Nicola Adams, and Anthony Joshua.
Dr Barney came up with the concept of Spartannn Brain Gym after working with prisoners as an NHS clinical psychologist at HM Prison Hewell in Tardebigge in Worcestershire.
She developed a ‘special interest' in men's mental health after becoming alarmed by the statistics surrounding suicide which is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK according to the Office for National Statistics. Men accounted for three-quarters of suicide deaths registered in 2021 with 4,129 male deaths compared with 1,454 female deaths.
Dr Barney said: "I created Spartannn with men in mind because men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women and are less likely to go to traditional talking therapy.
"I have been testing the methods and techniques used at Spartannn for the last few years with prisoners, army veterans and police officers and that has given me the certainty that Spartannn can help men achieve positive outcomes.
"Spartannn is for everyday people and a totally new way of approaching mental health. At a brain gym, the focus is on increasing brain health, strength and functioning so that men can cope more easily and effortlessly with the stresses and pressures of life.
"Spartannn is aimed at men but it is suitable for anybody who knows they need to sort their heads out but don't want to see a therapist and talk about their problems.
"The sessions include simple cognitive techniques and practical exercises and an optional comprehensive assessment of progress during a session. We also offer ongoing monitoring of mental health outcomes to track progress and success and personalised mental fitness training plans which are tailored to meet individual needs for optimal results."
Dr Barney's interest in men's mental health is also compounded by the fact she has three young boys, Will, six, Tom, eight and Sam, 10. She wants to ensure they grow up with all the tools they need to live a happy and fulfilling life when they turn into men.
She said: "My boys are also a big part of the reason why I founded Spartannn because one day they will also be men. Our brains aren't set in stone, they are able to be rewired, build new networks, and it doesn't take long at all for the brain to do this.
"Usually within 8-12 weeks our brain notices these new connections as its naturally starts coming up with new ideas and doing things differently. For men out there who might be going through a tough time now, we want them to know that Spartannn is there for them."
Dr Barney also has an ambition is to make the Spartannn brand a nationwide chain of Brain Gyms around the UK. She added: "That is the ultimate goal because if we really want to tackle high suicide rates among men, then we need brain gyms up and down the country, which can help them see that there is another way to dealing with life."