A DETERMINDED student from Great Sankey is on a mission to tackle the taboo of borderline personality disorder (BPD) by helping others to better understand the mental health condition.

Rachael Johnston recently featured on ITV’s Granada Reports’ Fixers series - a campaign that gives young people a voice to talk about their own experiences to raise awareness of issues which are important to them.

The brave 23-year-old hopes that by speaking about her own struggles will challenge the many misconceptions out there about BPD and encourage those in need to seek help.

“You can’t catch a mental health condition by talking about it but you would think that is possible considering how little people talk about it,” said the University of Chester student.

After years of her disorder being unrecognised by professionals, Rachael was finally diagnosed with BPD aged 19 - a condition which causes her to experience a range of emotions including severe mood swings, paranoia and anxiety.

The former Great Sankey student, who has previously spoken out about her struggles with anorexia as a teen, said she was embarrassed to talk about it at first but now believes it is about breaking down the stigma associated with BPD.

Rachael, who is on the road to recovery after breaking free from the grip of anorexia, has been working with students at the University of Chester about her own personal journey.

She said: “My aim is to stamp out the stigma of mental health problems by tackling the taboo of borderline personality disorder.

“Working with undergraduates is really important to me as they are essentially the next generation of professionals.

“The people that I encountered didn’t seem to have a clue what it was like to work with someone with mental health issues and I really want to try and make sure that others don’t go through the same thing.”

Rachael , who is studying a BA in childhood and youth professional studies, added: “Hearing real life stories can really enhance someone’s learning.

“I'm not a case study in a book, I'm me, and I want to make a difference for others to ensure that their journey can be better and encourage those struggling to seek help.”

Rachael Johnston’s Fixers video can be viewed below.