T ALKING about mental health can make us feel exposed, vulnerable, and in fear of being judged.

For a group of ladies who met at Slimming World, exposing themselves is a positive thing.

They believe speaking out is the start of a journey to recovery.

In fact, they are taking things to the next level with determination to raise awareness of how we need to love ourselves inside and out.

Wearing just their swimsuits, the 12 ladies from Colchester and surrounding areas are posing for a mental health charity calendar.

Holly Flintoff, 30, said the photos will not be touched up or airbrushed, as they are celebrating natural beauty and the importance of being comfortable in your own skin.

She struggled with manic depression from her late teens, and was undiagnosed until she gave birth to her daughter, aged 25.

After a psychotic episode she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

She said: “It has taken a long time to get medication and increase my confidence.

“I was quite good at hiding it, I worked in the health sector so I knew what I had - I didn’t want to share it because of the taboo around mental health.

“I felt very scared and very out of control, I don’t remember a lot about it.”

Her husband took her to see a doctor and they offered to take her into hospital, but thought she would be safer at home under suicide watch.

She said: “I was very poorly but my husband was given time off work so he could look after me.

“I still have low points and suffer from panic attacks where I collapse.”

She said there is still huge stigma around mental health, and people can still live their lives normally with a condition.

“It’s no different to having diabetes or a heart condition,” she said.

“The more people that know about it and understand it the easier it will be to talk about.

“The whole reason we decided to do the calendar is we thought it would be really good to raise awareness, you don’t need to hide your mental health.

“It’s something that needs to be spoken about as if it were a common cold.”

Her friend, Annabel Glayzer, is an advocate for celebrating the beauty in everyone.

The 25-year-old, who is a part- time model, has faced years of trying to build up her confidence.

She said: “I have always been quite an emotional person, I was bullied in primary school and would lock myself away.

“When I was about 15, something just clicked, I ended up very depressed and suicidal, my self- confidence hit rock bottom.

“I hated myself, and after multiple suicide attempts I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.”

When she was about 17 she was also diagnosed with epilepsy, which knocked her confidence further.

She said: “I was really poorly and I had to cope with losing my independence, at that point I felt rather alone with it all.

“Then in 2012 I met my husband and from the beginning I wanted to be quite open. On our first date I said ‘just to let you know, I’m crazy’.

“He went off an researched personality disorder, he was so understanding.”

She is undergoing multiple therapies and feels it has helped a huge amount. Being a model, she understands how people look at photos and feel they must look and act like the perfect person in them.

She said: “It makes you feel rubbish, it attacks people’s mental health.

“It’s also about being honest with the people you are in relationships with - this is us speaking out saying everyone is beautiful, and you need to love yourself and look after yourself inside and out.”

The ladies are taking part in the photoshoot for their calendar for mental health charity Mind, based in Colchester, on August 5, and it has been sponsored by nine local charities.

They have set up a Facebook page called MIND Charity Calendar - Colchester so people can follow their progress.

They have also set up a fundraising page - visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mindcharitycalender.

MIND offers support for people with mental health issues, and they welcomed the calendar plans.

A spokesman said: “We understand it can be difficult to talk about mental health problems, by bravely sharing their experiences these ladies are helping to break down the stigma around mental health.

“At Mid and North Essex Mind we believe no one should have to face a mental health problem alone. We are here providing local services across the area for adults, children and young people experiencing mental health problems.

“You can contact us for supportive, non-judgemental help for you or someone close to you, for full details of the services we offer please visit mnessexmind.org or call 01206 764600.

“We would like to thank everyone involved with the calendar, the money raised will support people experiencing mental health problems locally."