A new support group is due to start for young people aged between 18 and 30 in the Omagh area.
The group is being set up by depression charity AWARE and aims to tackle issues around mental health among young people in the area.
The group facilitator Sarah Rooney said young people locally are suffering in silence and the new initiative is an attempt to change that.
“We’re really looking forward to opening this new group for young people in Omagh,” Sarah said.
“So many young people are struggling with their mental health in silence and we want you to know that you are not alone.
“Mental ill-health is common and treatable. Our support groups offer you the chance to meet other people in the same boat and realise you aren’t alone. We even have pizza for the opening night.”
The group will have its first meeting on Thursday 1 September at 7pm in The Hub on Market Street in the town and will meet fortnightly.
One of the organisation's volunteers, Jordan Poucher, 22, joined a support group after suffering from depression and anxiety over a number of years and encouraged those locally to attend if they need to get help.
“Depression is a very lonely illness,” Jordan said. "It’s easy to feel alienated. But when I sit down at a support group, I look around at smiling faces and people of all ages.
“I realise everybody is in the same boat as me. Everybody understands what I’m going through.
"I think a lot of people when you tell them you’re depressed, because you’re smiling and putting on that mask if you’re on a night out or you’re out in public, people look at you and think ‘there’s nothing wrong with him’ ‘he’s not depressed’.
"I realised from coming to the group that everybody with depression dons that mask but when you’re around other people with the illness, you don’t have to.”
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