A MENTAL health campaigner in Chard has called for more awareness and help for teenagers with anxiety and depression.

Nathan Harmer-Taylor, who has borderline personality disorder and has worked for mental health charity Mind, wrote to South Somerset MP Marcus Fysh around World Mental Health Day 2016.

He said: “I contacted Marcus a while back to get some information about the Mental Health Taskforce and what more will be done in the area to support people with mental health issues.

“I think mental health awareness is so important. I attempted suicide in March and spent a week in the Intensive Care Unit. I also spent a week in a psychiatric ward in November 2015. I know what it is like to go through hell and come out the other side.

“In Chard there is The Watch Project which is run every Thursday and is a great asset to people in the community.

“We do need more awareness though because I believe more should be done to help teenagers with anxiety and depression. The earlier people are given the tools to help the deal with mental health, the better.”

Mr Harmer-Taylor added: “Men in the UK aged 20 to 49 are now more likely to die from suicide than any other cause of death. For that to change, the stigma of mental illnesses must be challenged.

“One in four of us will be affected by mental illness in any year. The effects are as real as a broken arm, even though there isn’t a sling or plaster cast to show for it.

“Too many people are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless. Without our support, they can lose what they care about most - their family and friends, their job, their home, their energy for life.

“When you’re going through a mental health problem, you need your friends more than ever. We all need to take mental health seriously and make it easier for people to come forward and get the support they need.”

Mr Fysh said: “I am pleased that the government will spend an additional £1 billion on mental health by 2020/21 to improve access to services so that people receive the right care in the right place when they need it most.

“This includes increasing the number of people completing talking therapies by 600,000 per year, and helping 20,000 more people to find or stay in work through individual placement support and talking therapies. A further £1.25 billion will be provided for young people’s mental health.”