A MENTAL health support service has joined forces with local gyms to encourage men to seek help if they are struggling.

Release, a volunteer network can be reached through Facebook to allow men to talk about mental health, launched its new campaign last week at The Gym in Ayr.

The charity are urging people, even the loudest in the gym, to chat it out as they aim to tackle the rise in male suicides.

Robbie Muir, 30, who started Release last year has told how he hopes the campaign will increase awareness of the service across Ayrshire.

Now he is taking to gyms and getting them to spread the word, with posters, water cups all passing on the message to get in touch.

He said: “It’s helping the service get out there more which is great, it’s a subtle awareness to say if you want to come and seek help on the page, you can.

“We’ve got over 30 gyms across Ayrshire, they’ve all taken all our stuff, The Gym Group over in Heathfield are having a coffee morning, we’ve got other ones donating water bottles. It’s all about increasing awareness.”

With most gyms seeing a surge in numbers across this month, as people try to burn off Christmas dinners and New Year partying, Robbie is keen to get his message out there.

He said: “January is the busiest month for gyms with everybody kick starting their year again so we thought it would be good to target it.”

“It’s not always quiet ones who need help, it’s there for everybody you could have someone who in the gym who is the loudest person in the gym with the biggest muscles but it’s them who’s actually struggling.”

The Release campaign has attracted 12 gyms across South Ayrshire and 14 in East, and Robbie has been really happy with the positive response.

He added: “Nearly everybody we have spoken to has been up for it, they are taking the message on board and putting it on their social media.”

A spokesperson for The Gym Group Heathfield said: “Mental Health seems to be an ever growing problem in Scotland, a regular work out routine, and a healthy diet can make you feel not just physically better but mentally better too. It’s something everyone should do”