IF you have teenage children, you may be aware of a new website aimed at reducing the stigma around mental health.

The website www.bekindtomymind.co.uk includes information on local mental health services, where to go if you need to access urgent help and a video of young people talking about their personal experiences.

The idea of an anti-stigma campaign came in 2016 from the Healthy Minds Youth Project, which is an action group supported by Bolton Council and the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Bolton.

The group approached Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to help fund a campaign, and we have been working closely with the group ever since.

We were all very proud to see the campaign launched a couple of weeks ago as the young people involved have co-designed the website. Their video ‘It’s okay to talk’ is available to view via the website and on YouTube. A few months ago the video was played during our public board meeting and everyone was transfixed — you could’ve heard a pin drop!

The young people have shown such resilience, eloquence and creativity, and we really value their input.

Working more closely with our young citizens is something we are keen on developing further at the CCG, so watch this space.

The next time you are in town, look out for the campaign on digital screens in the Market Place. There are some near the lifts leading to the cinema, outside Pandora and JD Sports, plus the huge TV screen on the first floor of the shopping centre.

And if your teenager mentions that they’ve seen the campaign on Instagram, Twitter or Spotify then why not take the opportunity to ask how they’re feeling?