A Blackburn author has spoken about tackling issues relating to children's mental health through her book series.

The four books - the Lotus Series - penned by Carla Mironiuk are aimed at young children and uses flowers as characters who each have a mental health condition.

Among them is a Lotus flower who has depression, a sunflower who has ADHD, a bluebell who has separation anxiety and rose who has generalised anxiety.

Carla said: “Each story is tailored towards each of the four mental health conditions, and how they navigate through daily life, when they are experiencing mental health struggles.

“There is an additional character in each of the books - Bumble Bee, who acts as a therapist character, who helps the flowers to understand how they are feeling, and how their feelings can impact friendships and the emotions of their friends too.

“The books use easy to understand, basic language to express how the flowers feel, but without any direct mention of mental health, or labels.”

Carla has a degree in Applied Psychology Counselling and Health, from the University Centre at Blackburn College. She published the books, as children's mental health is something she feels passionate about.

A further series, Me & My Mind, is made up of seven books and focuses on a different mental health disorder in each such as depression, generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, panic disorder, eating disorders and exam stress.

Carla said: “The second book series is aimed at older children/young adults and are self-help journals.

"Each of the books include an explanation of mental health, a description of each specific mental health disorder - based on the book, self-help pages, diary pages, activity pages, getting to know themselves pages and much more.

“Both book series are available from Amazon, with a number of the story books already distributed to local primary schools, free of charge, in order to help the growing mental health crisis that children are facing.

“I want to help normalise talking about mental health, about emotions, about how consuming negative emotions can be, in order to help children and young people speak out, when they are struggling.”

You can find the Lotus Series books and Me & My Mind books on Amazon.