A BURY hypnotherapist is set to make a renewed push for greater awareness of men's health.

Richard O'Neill is alarmed at the continuing rise of suicide rates and sexually transmitted diseases among men.

And he is set to co-launch a new website on November 9 with the backing of the Government to deal with the issues.

He said: "Men's health has become a passion of mine. Four or so years ago it was a topic that was often laughed at but with the rise of lads mags, men and their health has risen in the public conscience.

"Men may still be slightly uncomfortable about talking about their bodies.

"Yet it has become so much more important now to look, feel and be in good health and I want to hammer that home."

Richard sits on the prestigious 10-strong Men's Health forum which is now part of the British Medical Association.

It is about to launch the high-profile website www.menshealthforum.org.uk to promote male self-awareness.

And according to Richard, a former builder who took to hypnotherapy eight years ago and works from his home in Brandlesholme, it is set to spark a whole new wave of interest in the subject.

He said: "I am pushing for a men's health week some time next year to be accompanied with events all over the country."

The 38-year-old also works with businesses and sporting organisations, helping to turn their fortunes around.

He was called to prevent Shrewsbury Town from plunging into the Nationwide Conference last season, giving them a confidence boost which he claims saw them win their last match 2-1 -- leaving unlucky Chester to drop out of the league instead.

He said: "I had been to Shrewsbury the season before last at a time when they were being unfavourably compared with Manchester United.

"Before I got there, the team had got five points from nine games. Over the next 10, they went on an unbeaten run and picked up 20 points."

Mental health, he claimed, was just as important as physical well-being.

He said: "It soon became obvious why Shrewsbury were not winning. What I emphasised was the importance of motivation and team work. I didn't get involved in tactics but the individual players' well-being.

"You can have a team of average players but if they can't play together then everything collapses. I instilled in players at Shrewsbury that 2,000 people had travelled to see them in Exeter and they would be heroes if they won.

"That, on top of ensuring that each player had a positive attitude to their game, helped them enormously.

"You often hear commentators say players are great but haven't got their mind on the game. You need both, as 90 per cent of success is in the mind. That is the sort of thought process which I am keen to promote."