Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine in mental health awareness campaign (From This Is Lancashire)

Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine in mental health awareness campaign

4:00pm Thursday 23rd February 2012 in News

CORONATION Street star Jennie McAlpine – Fiz Stape in the soap – is looking to turn the focus on positive mental health as part of a photo competition.

Life Through The Lens is running across the north-west to promote five simple ways that amateur snappers can feel better about themselves.

The Rossendale actress says collecting the images will help the budding David Baileys to connect with the world around them, be active, take notice of their surroundings, keep on learning and give their own take on life.

Jennie is a well-known supporter of mental health issues and recently saw her father Tom McAlpine, chairman of the Manchester-based support network Mood Swings, pick up an OBE for his services to the discipline.

“The five simple actions Life Through The Lens highlights can make an incredible difference to many lives,” said Jennie.

“By picking up a camera and taking part we’re all helping to make mental health a more easily accepted topic of conversation.”

Part of the work of The Year of Health and Wellbeing Partnership, the competition has been designed to help people overcome the current economic downturn.

Individual categories for schools, under 18s, adults, camera clubs and an online pick have been created and entries can be submitted by the partnership’s website.