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A actor involved in a campaign highlighting male mental health issues has revealed most of those who stopped were women.

Barry Dobson, 54, lay curled up on a mat in his underpants at key locations across Dublin including Heuston Station, the GPO, Grafton St and Dail Eireann.

He was one of several men involved in ‘SOSManDown’ on Friday– and said one of the biggest obstacles was the weather.

He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It was very, very cold with just a pair of shorts to cover my modesty. Every time we stopped between locations for a cup of tea it made it harder to go back outside.

“I was curled in a foetal position with my arms over my head. We had a few people coming up to ask if I’m OK.

“There were no complaints, the only worry from people was about leaving me out in the cold.

“But I was happy to be involved and help spread the message.”

(Image: Collins)

The campaign was organised by Fathers4Justice to address rates of suicide, alcohol and drug abuse in men and ran simultaneously in Dublin, London and Edinburgh.

The biggest male killer for under 35's is suicide and eight men a week take their lives here.

F4J is calling for a Minister for Men & Boys to tackle the issue. Founder Matt O’Connor revealed he struggled with thoughts of suicide when a bitter custody battle for his two eldest sons brought him to his lowest ebb.

The 50-year-old told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I remember buying a bottle of Jack Daniels and ending up on a bridge.

“I was moments from jumping, I just couldn’t find the positive. The one thing that kept me going was my sons Daniel and Alexander.

“We need to change the narrative, men are seen as predators, as deadbeats, as abusers. The truth is very different."