Rugby star's mental health twitter campaign goes viral

A former Yorkshire rugby star's social media campaign to get men talking about mental health has gone viral.

#ITSOKAYTOTALK encourages men to speak more openly about problems they face, with the aim of reducing the number of male suicides.

Statistics reveal suicide is the biggest killer of males under the age of 45 in the UK, and that men are three times more likely to kill themselves than women.

Former Leeds Rhinos player Luke Ambler decided to start the campaign after his brother-in-law, Andy, unexpectedly took his own life.

Speaking about Andy's death, Luke posted: "Sadly and tragically, without any warning Andrew was taken away from all his family and friends by suicide. What is staggering is that 42% of men aged 18-45 have considered suicide as an option."

"It is quite unbelievable that there isn't that much awareness. What seems to be a big underlying problem for men is their inability to speak out about what is bothering them."

The campaign asks people to post a selfie whilst doing the universal hand gesture for 'okay'.

Speaking to Viking, Luke said: "Seeing it happen to my family, and the destruction and absolute devastation it left for his friends, family, my kids, my misses, his mum, his dad... it was absolutely heart-wrenching, and I thought 'something has to be done here."

Luke says: "I wanted something everyone could do. I thought actually, you know what... the okay sign.I just said to my misses - Andy's sister - why don't we try, just put it out and just see. So I did it, and I was panicking. I went and got a bath and I looked, and noone else had done one. And I woke up in the morning, and it just... it started ticking off, locally, and then by Thursday, Friday it were completely viral."

Celebrities are also backing the campaign, including Luke's former team mates Rob Burrows and Berett Feres.

Alongside his social media campaign, Luke has also created a support group for men. Luke named it after his brother-in-law - calling it the Andy Man Club.

"I received around 250 messages. People were talking about themselves, their brothers, their dads... I was planning on setting up the first meeting for three weeks from then. After I realised how many people needed this, I organised the first one in less than a week."

After just a few sessions, Luke was already noticing considerable changes in those who were attending: "So far, 24 new men have walked through the doors. The difference in such a short period of time is unbelievable. Some people were so down that they were off work - they're now back in."

Luke says he now wants an Andy's Man Club in every major city in the UK at least.

• Local News