A NEW men's mental health group will meet for the first time next week in Helensburgh.

Time To Talk has been set up as a successor to Males Tales, which wound down in May after four years.

The informal group will give men a space to talk in a non-judgemental environment to share their stories and challenges.

Ian Greig, who is helping set up the group, said during lockdown he found the Drumchapel-based group Men Matters running online meetings.

He saw the support they offered to men from a variety of backgrounds, whether substance abuse, single parenthood, unemployment or other issues.

Mr Greig told the Advertiser: "After lockdown eased, I started as one of the first volunteers at Males Tales and facilitated several meetings alongside John Lewis until the end of last year.

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"I had heard that the group was finishing up and was sad to hear this as the area would miss the support provided.

"Following a chat with some of the men that attended Males Tales, I decided that I would start a new group called Time to Talk once a month."

The meetings will take place every third Thursday at the Helensburgh Community Hub from 7pm to 9pm, starting on July 20.

He said they want the meetings to be a place to talk and connect with other men in a supportive environment.

Mr Greig continued: "There is a stigma still that does not allow a man to talk freely, show vulnerability, without being called out or seen as a weakness especially in the company of men in the workplace or friends and family.

"There is a high rate of suicide in men as well as the body image shaming and social media life.

"Men are absolutely not alone, even if they think they are - not just men but women as well."

He added: "The facilitators and I are there as hosts and will not offer any counseling our position is to hold the space and be present, as we are not counsellors and are not medically trained."

To find out more about the group, email Time-to-talk-at-the-hub@hotmail.com.