A new undertaking designed to help those who need to talk about their troubles has been launched by a Darlington charitable organisation.

Darlington Rotary has funded the production of a "business card" which guides people towards organisations and helplines for those who feel the need to talk to someone.

Organiser and Rotary member Sue Campbell said: "These days there are many people, old and young, who may feel the need to talk about their problems to those they are not directly connected to.

"In England, one in four people experience a mental health issue each year, and one in six experience a common mental health problem like anxiety or depression in a given week.

(Image: Contributor)

"Our 'mental health card' – the size of a business card – will be carried in the purses and wallets of members of Darlington Rotary who can hand it out to anyone they feel may need to talk."

They will also be available in dispensers around the town – including Darlington Building Society, the Dolphin Centre and churches - for people to pick up.

On one side they carry the message "It’s Okay Not to Be Okay" and the reverse has numbers of local and national helplines.

Darlington Rotary President Jeff Mann said: "We hope this will go a small way to helping those who feel they have no-one to talk to when things look bleak." 

The project is part of Rotary’s Health and Wellbeing activities, designed to inform and help Rotarians and others and run by its community service team.