A MAN who "wouldn't be here" without counselling support is now aiming to become a counsellor himself.

Chris McCleary, 40, from Dunbar, began his journey with CrossReach, a Scottish social care organisation, in 2012 after experiencing a mental health crisis.

Mr McCleary said: "I had a breakdown in 2012 and I went to the doctor about it.

"I remember bursting into tears at the time.

"I was handed a leaflet for CrossReach counselling and I was seen very quickly.

"They helped me recover and get things back on track.

"It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t a quick journey but, without CrossReach, I can say confidently I wouldn’t be here today."

CrossReach provides various support services and initiatives for those in need across Scotland.

After his experience with CrossReach, Mr McCleary went on to marry and the couple now have a child together.

In 2013, he embarked on a 1,000-mile walk across Scotland to raise nearly £1,500 for CrossReach.

Reflecting on the walk, he said: "After CrossReach helped me so much, I wanted to do something to help support them and the walk felt like a good idea."

Mr McCleary has been using his experience with mental health struggles to assist others.

He is currently works as an employability support worker at The Ridge, Dunbar, an organisation that provides life skills and training for local people.

He also previously volunteered at Changes, a Musselburgh charity promoting positive wellbeing and mental health.

His dedication to helping others led him to achieve a Higher National Certificate (HNC) qualification in counselling in 2015 and he is now studying for a Higher National Diploma (HND) in the same subject.

Mr McCleary said: "I like that I can help people and feeling the benefits of counselling first-hand through CrossReach, I knew that it was something I wanted to do."

He is passionate about raising the profile of counselling services and tackling the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

He said: "I think talking to someone is the most important thing.

"When I talked to the doctor, it was clear I was struggling.

"I don’t even think it’s necessarily speaking to a professional at first. Just talk to someone, a friend, family member, neighbour.

"I spoke with the minister at Belhaven Church when I was struggling. They were a big help too.

"Opening up is important."

Mr McCleary emphasised the profound impact of saving a life from suicide, saying: "I read a statistic that, for every suicide, hundreds of people are impacted.

"But I think it would also be good to know how many people are impacted by a life saved from suicide."

He added: "I’m in a great place now.

"I have a family of my own and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for CrossReach."