A mental health activist has launched a campaign to encourage people to talk about their wellbeing more in a bid to “help save lives”.

Maxine McFarlane-Ojuederie, from Watford, has set up the Lets Talk Campaign as she believes people should not feel afraid to discuss mental health issues openly with family, friends or work colleagues.

She is the founder of The Hazel McFarlane Foundation, which was set up to raise money to help “end stigmas and labels” around mental health.

Ms McFarlane-Ojuederie says people will be able to look after their wellbeing and get more support if they talk more.

She said: “I feel very passionate about this cause because so many people are affected by mental health but they often just suffer in silence.

“It can affect anyone without you realising - your family, neighbours or work colleagues. We all need to continually looking after our mental health and wellbeing but it is not something we try to accomplish in one day and put off the following day.”

To find out more about Ms McFarlane-Ojuederie’s campaign, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/maxine-mcfarlane-ojuederie