An aspiring sports reporter has created a mental health blog to support his peers.

Jonnie Carroll, a Year 13 student at Greenacre Academy, Waldersalde, has written five stories in an attempt to spread a message of positivity to his classmates during these uncertain times.

The 17-year-old is currently studying for his A-levels at PGW, the sixth-form partnership of Greenacre Academy and Walderslade Girls' School.

On top of his lessons, he launched the blog via the schools' websites to help him and his fellow students cope during the third lockdown.

He said: "As we finally saw the back of the previous lockdown, and restrictions began to be eased during the summer, I hoped that we'd never have to experience such a trying time again.

"Unfortunately, we had to do just that and we don't know when it will end.

"This is an extremely difficult prospect for anyone to face, but particularly for those of us who have struggled with our mental health."

Jonnie was inspired to help others in an attempt to show that people struggling with mental health are not alone.

He continued: "I know many people who have either struggled with their minds in the past or are in the midst of such a struggle at this very moment.

"More than anything, I wish to show these people that they are not alone in their struggles."

To people who may relate to the topic of his blog, Jonnie offered the following advice: "You are not alone and you never will be. There is always somebody who can relate to the way you are feeling. Please take comfort in that fact and keep on fighting."

The Everton FC fan hopes to one day report on his beloved Toffees at Goodison Park.

Jonnie added: "My passion is football but as I wasn't good enough to play at the top level, I wanted to focus on sports journalism instead.

"I plan to go to university to study journalism but probably not until it's possible to enjoy the full experience when Covid no longer dominates our lives and health.

"The response from my friends and other students to the blog has been amazing.

"Writing it has really helped me with my own mental health and it's also helped me to focus on my ambition to be a journalist one day."

Check out Jonnie's blog here.

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