COMMENT: It's okay to admit you need some support

The mental health issues created by the pandemic and lives being turned upside down for the past nine months are very real.

It's why today The News and other titles in its parent company JPIMedia are launching the There For Each Other campaign.

Each week we’ll focus on a different topic of mental health and tell the stories of those affected, plus talk to the professionals who are able to help.

While statistics are produced to show us the physical impact of coronavirus, the psychological impact is much more difficult to measure. But for many it's been a struggle to keep going as families have been hit by everything from illness and bereavement to unemployment and disrupted education.

There For Each Other is about communicating the message that you're not alone and that it's good to talk about anything that's troubling you - even for professionals who normally spend their working days helping others.

On page 4 we feature the story of Sarah Grainger, who works at St Mary’s as a modern matron in the Portsmouth Rehab and Reablement Team.

She'd been caring for Covid patients since the start of the outbreak and had seen the effect on their physical and mental health.

But last month she herself needed support after all her family were struck down by the virus.

Sarah now wants to get across the message that it's okay not to be okay.

So please, if you need support then seek it out. Talk to family and friends, colleagues or healthcare professionals. If we're There For Each Other, we can get through this.