Selfless Auchinleck man will try to save lives by targeting punters going for pint

Robbie Muir, 30, is launching a new campaign to help men who are struggling with their mental health.

Coasters, posters, and more will be handed out throughout local establishments in a bid to let people know there is always another way out.

As founder of Charity Release Ayrshire, he is trying to raise awareness by starting conversations over the weekend in local pubs to encourage men to open up.

He will promote Release Ayrshire's Facebook page to scrap the stigma around men’s struggle with mental health and gives them a safe space to talk things though.

It’s a first step towards getting more professional help and lets people know they are never alone.

It comes after suicide levels more than doubled in East Ayrshire last year.

There were 26 suspected suicides between January and November 2018 , compare with 12 suicide deaths in 2017.

The devastating news comes as health chiefs announce an investigation into the most recent 50 cases of people who took their own lives.

Kind Robbie wanted to help his community after seeing the spike in suicides.

Working as a funeral director during the day he saw the direct devastation families suffered after losing a family member to mental health and set up the Facebook page.

He came up with the idea to launch the Pub Awareness campaign after releasing people were more likely to hurt themselves or feel lonely after a night out.

Robbie said: “Our campaign will run across Ayrshire throughout July so we can help as many people as possible.

“Basically we want to hit the pub scene because emotions can be running high and some guys might start to spiral, it doesn’t need to be like that and we want to help them take the first step.

“That’s why we have made up custom posters and coasters so they know there is someone to talk to at all times, our Facebook page isn’t a 9-5 thing we are available all the time to anyone.

“Someone might even see the coaster and feel like they can open up to a pal and chat it could start an important conversation.

“Hopefully it makes more people come to us and use our service, we just really want to help the community and let them know there is always another way out.”

Suicide is currently the single biggest killer in men under 45 in the UK.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123.