PEOPLE across Barrow are sharing their mental health stories as part of a new project.

SAFA's digital library of lived experience, part of the charity's self-care toolbox, hears from 16 local people of all ages and genders to empower them and encourage others to share their experiences.

SAFA support people across Cumbria who self-harm and those who support them.

“What I’ve been trying to do is create videos that reflect the person, giving people their own autonomy over their own story and how they want to portray it", said creative director and filmmaker Lois Elizabeth, who has worked alongside animator Vanessa Graham on the project.

"Some of the topics that we’ve got vary from 80-year-olds talking about how poetry has helped their experience of having an estranged child, self-harm, suicide in the family, race and growing up in care.

"Everyone’s got lived experience and it’s nice that this project is giving them that space to do that.

"Some of the feedback that we’ve got is that it’s actually helped them get over shame around their mental health, for example with self-harm, coming to terms with it and letting go of the stigma."

The project launch exhibition will take place on May 18 from 5.30-7.30pm at Cooke's Studio on Abbey Road.

Lois added: "I’m hoping the people who have been involved feel a part of something and that the local community has come to celebrate what was once a stigma of mental health that we can talk about and open up doors for other people.

"I’ve found there are so many good souls out there – even if you’ve been through hell and back. Through doing things like this, meeting new people, being open, there are really good things to come.

"I hope as many people can come and get involved to see everybody’s stories be celebrated and invite more people to celebrate mental health more – especially coming from a small town, it can be quite hard to talk about."

All of the contributors were given wellbeing forms to fill in ahead of filming and all volunteered to be included.