SORCHA describes herself as ‘a bit of a mis-fit.’

Moving into a different school, she found herself among peers who had been together since primary school so she didn’t feel as though she fitted in.

“I think I was, overall, a sensitive sort of person. I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t go to the same school as everyone from primary school.”

In addition to her lack of confidence, Sorcha also suffered with anxiety which exacerbated the situation to the point where her periodic attendances at school became fewer and fewer.

“When I was 13 I started periodically not being able to go to school. I couldn’t go to some lessons altogether, the anxiety built up. It started as a school phobia and ended up being not able to leave the house.”

A lack of awareness of mental health problems affecting young people could be the reason why many parents like Sorcha’s mum, Liz Monaghan, are often left floundering.

The delay in treatment can exacerbate the issue. For example, in Sorcha’s case she was reported as being truant rather than having a mental health problem.

“Even though I would try and go to school I would be shaking because I didn’t want to go,” recalls Sorcha.

It is this lack of awareness that Liz and Sorcha are wanting to highlight by speaking out about their own experience.

For them, the turning point came when Liz found out about the charityYoungMinds.

Based in London, YoungMinds is a national charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

Its Parents Helpline began after its founders discovered parents were frustrated, worried and desperately needed information, reassurance and advice.

“We know that young people are under increasing pressure at school and with exams and there is also the added pressure of the 24/7 online culture and the fact that young people now need to make their lives look good online,” says a spokesperson for YoungMinds.

Single parent, Liz, found the charity’s support invaluable at a time when she and Sorcha needed it the most.

“We have taken a very long journey, she is in a much better place and we have learnt a lot through that, not least through our involvement with YoungMinds,” says Liz.

She recalls of all the useful information she found online, the blogs and testimonies she read on the YoungMinds website felt as though it spoke to her.

“I really liked the way it was different from the other mental health things I had seen online. This was about the reality of how it impacted on your daily life.”

“It was written by people who understand,” says Liz, who is now a parent ambassador for the charity.

As well as wanting to give something back for the support she and Sorcha received, Liz is keen to get the message across to young people that mental health isn’t something to be ashamed of.

“We need to make it OK for people to speak about it. I think YoungMinds found young people didn’t go to their parents and GPs or teachers, they talked to each other,” says Liz.

“We need to give young people the skills and understanding of mental health problems, to talk to each other and be supportive and that is why it is so important the work YoungMinds do in school helping them to become peer support for each other.”

Sorcha is now studying for her GCSEs and hopes to eventually go to university. “I’m not sure what I will study yet but whatever I do in future it will probably be something along this route. I want to help people in the most direct way as possible.”

Liz says mental health is part of physical health. “It is exactly the same. If someone has a broken leg it is very straight forward, but if someone has a broken head and heart it takes time and care and compassion to treat them appropriately.”

Liz, Sorcha and YoungMinds have expressed their appreciation to Bradford’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Geoff Reid, who is supporting the charity during his year of office.

“Within the next five years Bradford will find itself with a younger population profile than any other city in Europe. I wanted to raise money to support this wonderful charity and also use it as an opportunity to give them more of a presence in Bradford. I want to use my Lord Mayor’s Appeal to help those young people in Bradford who need this support to make use of the services offered by YoungMinds,” says Cllr Reid.

For more information visit youngminds.org.uk or the Parents Helpline, running from 9.30am until 4pm, Monday to Friday, on 0808 802 5544.