Chesterfield students seek to raise awareness about depression in teens

A group of students is raising awareness about depression among teenagers.
The students want to highlight depression among young people.The students want to highlight depression among young people.
The students want to highlight depression among young people.

The group, called Youth Sparks, is made up of 12 teenagers who want to end the stigma associated with the mental health problem.

They held a fundraising event at The Britannia Inn on Old Hall Road, Chesterfield, today.

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The money raised will be used by the group to buy window stickers and possibly wristbands featuring helpline numbers.

Youth Sparks is made up of Holly Riley, Charlie Owen, Adam Galloway, Jordan Williams, Alice Pendleton, Beth Delaney, Cory Cantrill, Erin Turner, Jamal Hussian, Milly Schleifer, Sasha Newell, Sophie Harrald and Sophie Swift.

Holly said: "Some people think that depression not a genuine health condition. But it is a real illness with real symptoms and it's not a sign of weakness or something you can 'snap out of' by 'pulling yourself together'."

The teenagers are being supported by Dora, an umbrella organisation for mental health self-help groups in Derbyshire.