A CARLISLE woman's mental health awareness campaign has been highlighted by singer James Arthur in a new BBC Three documentary.
Out of Our Minds, which aired on Sunday (November 13), shines a light on Holly Horsley's ambitions to raise awareness of mental health through beer mats adorned with caring slogans.
Holly looks to spread the message in memory of her cousin Kyle Dilks who sadly took his own life, aged 21, in October 2020.
In the documentary, X Factor winning James Arthur opens up about his struggles with mental health over the years and highlights the ever-growing male mental health crisis in the UK.
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He talks to other men in the documentary who have also struggled and how they opened up and sought help.
"We filmed with James in Redcar in February," Holly said.
"He is a beautiful genuine man and the encouragement he gave us was just lovely.
"In the interview he talks to my cousin Corey Douglas who is Kyle Dilk’s older brother about Kyle and how his suicide impacted the family and the start of the campaign."
The Carlisle local said she has also had to deal with issues of struggling with her own mental health, but now looks to encourage others to speak out.
"Following Kyle’s death I just knew I had to do something. I do think mental health is still very taboo when it comes to men and this needs to change. Suicide is still the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK.
"Kyle had been fighting a silent battle with his mental health. He was well known for his infectious smile and personality.
"He lit up the room wherever he was, had a great job, friends, family and a fiancée, no one ever knew the daily battle he was facing in his mind," she said.
The beer mat campaign, which comes with with a QR code linked to urgent support, has so far raised over £10,000.
"We have had lots of messages to say that seeing the words on the beer mats has helped them or a loved one reach out," Holly said.
This winter a further 20,000 mats will be distributed across the north east and Cumbria.
The group are looking for pubs and cafes in Cumbria that would like to be involved to get in touch and consider making a donation to the JustGiving page.
To view the Out of our Minds documentary, visit BBC IPlayer.
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