TALKING about her mental health was "the hardest thing" a Bolton teenager had ever done.

Katie Langin, 18, is one of a group of teenagers who have helped create a new mental health website for people like them.

Katie sees the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder, she describes thinking her "rough childhood" was normal.

Through CAMHS she has taken part in the Healthy Minds Youth Project, an action group of young people aged 13-19 years. The group found a gap in the early intervention services in Bolton and wanted to make sure people facing the same difficulties knew where to go.

From this the website bekindtomymind.co.uk was born thanks to funding from Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Katie said: "Voicing my story is the hardest thing I have ever done but it feels good that I can turn something so negative in my life into something that could help another young person.

"I am sure that there are many individuals out there who want to have a better life.

"My message to those struggling with their mental health is that things will get better, and it’s ok to talk.”

As part of the project Katie and the other teenagers filmed a video around Bolton, exploring their mental health issues and talking about how the progress they were making.

The site includes information on local mental health services, where to go if you need to access urgent help along with a poignant video of our young people talking about their personal experiences.

As part of the website launch, a borough-wide campaign is under way, highlighting the resource to young people between the ages of 14-18 on social media platforms including, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.

The group has been fully involved in creating the campaign, even recording the audio clips for social media.

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and ultimately reduce the stigma that is attached to young people with regards to their mental and emotional health

Dr Barry Silvert, Clinical Director for Commissioning at the CCG, said: “This campaign has been driven through the passion of young people in Bolton wanting to reduce the stigma around mental health.

“When engaging with young people and their families, a key message has been that often young people don’t know what support is available within Bolton around mental health and wellbeing so the bekindtomymind microsite aims to address this.”

For more information visit, www.bekindtomymind.co.uk and watch the video it’s Okay to Talk on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYKfLhgafSU