A new support group for residents suffering poor mental health is already proving a success after launching last month.

Irvine’s Thinking Out Loud mental health self support group held their third meeting last week – which runs on Thursday evenings in the Fullarton Hub on Ayr Road.

Angela Banks, who set up the group along with Louise Williams, Nicola Drummond, Lee-Anne Bratton and Tracy Gemmell, is encouraging anyone suffering from depression, loneliness, suicidal thoughts, or just struggling with life in general to come along.

Angela Banks said: “There’s been so much happening in the community with young kids suffering from mental health illnesses and feeling suicidal. I just feel that these kids have nowhere to go. Me and the mums who set the group up we’ve just had enough and wanted to do something in our area.

“Nobody is forced to talk at the group, it’s about getting people together and them having somewhere to go. Some people feel secluded and that they have nothing.

“It’s an hour and a half with a cup of tea or a coffee and if you want to chat you can chat or if you want to listen you can listen. I’m not a trained medical professional, I’m just a mum, so I can’t advise anybody, but I have got a few professionals in with us and can give them guidance and phone numbers and websites. I’ve got a heart and have empathy so can listen to people and feel that’s enough to support them.”

“It’s actually been going really well, it’s been quite busy. The first week we had 21 people and the second week 20 with four new faces.

The group meets on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8pm in the Fullarton Hub.