THE founder of a mental health group in Helensburgh says the community is in good hands after they decided to end their work.

John Lewis told the Advertiser he and his wife Meresa had decided they simply couldn't devote the time needed to continue running Males Tales and Females Tales.

Particularly the administration side had become a significant time constraint and they felt their own mental health was starting to suffer running groups designed to help others.

They told service users in January that they planned to wind up their work, giving them months to find new support if needed.

But a new group is setting up in town this month - and John has helped train those who have set up the new initiative.

John told the Advertiser the couple had both moved on with their day jobs and needed to be able to commit time to their own family.

He said: "It was growing too big to keep ahead of. The amount of time we put in was almost that of a part-time job.

READ MORE: New men's mental health hub Males Tales opens in Helensburgh

"When we set it up, there was not anything like Males Tales or Females Tales."

Males Tales and Females Tales were based in the Drumfork Community Centre in Churchill Square.

Males Tales was founded in 2019 and provided a space for men in Helensburgh aged 16 and over to chat and share a cuppa.

Its success prompted John and Maresa to launch Females Tales in April 2021.

A new group, Time To Talk, will have its first meeting later this month and John said he trained those who set it up.

"I think we got people talking," said John. "There were no male groups or female groups - we got people talking a lot more, being conifdent to share stories in in this area.

"It's a shame it came to an end, but we had to do it for ourselves."

John said they estimated they supported 250 people directly in their four years. At times, such as the darker winter months, it could be quite busy.

He explained: "I just wanted it to be a little free walk-in sessions. But people were putting money in and it grew and grew. And I didn't want to take it any further.

"We asked and nobody wanted to take it on. I didn't want it to become a huge charity. I couldn't give it the justice it deserved.

"I was doing my day job, then support sessions and then admin at the weekend. There was no time for me or my family."

John said there were no groups and organisations - maybe some he wasn't aware of when they started - working on mental health.

"There's quite a lot of mental health and wellbeing support organisations in the area now," he added.

John particularly wanted to thank the public for their support, not just for Males Tales and Females Tales, but for each other.

"I would like to thank the public for all their support," he said. "It was the community that made Males Tales and Females Tales.

"It was the community that turned up and supported each other.

"One thing I have learned is Helensburgh and Lomond really do support our local charities.

"Hopefully they go on supporting each other. Without the support of the community, no charity or voluntary organisation can survive.

"And if you need support, don't be afraid to go up to any group and ask for that support. It's taking that first step. Don't be afraid."