A YOUNG woman on a mission to highlight mental health issues faced by teenagers has had a film shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Suffer in Silence, made by Fiona Malpass, 20, of Queens Road, Rayleigh, has been shortlisted for the Royal Television Society’s Southern Awards.

It was produced by ITV Fixers, which looks at issues affecting young people and then features those who have ideas to “fix” the problems.

Suffer in Silence is a dramatised short film about a youth’s battle with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Fiona, a former student at Seevic, Thundersley, who is now studying psychology at the University of Westminster, said: “I didn’t expect this at all. It’s great.

“I wanted to make a film that could be used to raise awareness of mental health issues that could be used in schools to get young people to be more open about these issues.”

Fiona, who suffered from depression in her teens, added: “Part of my reason for doing the film came from my own experience of mental illness.

“By speaking out I felt it might remove some of the stigma attached to mental health issues and encourage other people to speak out about their problems instead of bottling them up.”

ITV Fixers is a campaign that gives young people aged between 16 and 25 the opportunity to tackle any issue that they feel strongly about.

What they choose to do is up to them as long as it benefits at least one other person.

The project, which works throughout England, is based in Southgate Street, Winchester.

For more information go to www.itvfixers.com The awards will be held at Winchester Guildhall on February 18.