A young writer who wrote poetry as a way to help her cope with depression has published an anthology of her work showing her journey to recovery.

Hannah Precious had felt depressed for some time but thought her family moving from Lincolnshire to Lowestoft when she was 14 would give her a fresh start.

'When it got worse, it was clear to me it wasn't just the environment and it was actually depression,' she said.

However, it took her some time to get diagnosed, as her illness was confused with the usual experiences of a teenager growing up, as well as the stress of sitting exams.

She was eventually diagnosed, but soon took to writing, saying: 'It empowered me to say how I felt.'

Miss Precious, now 19, eventually took to posting her verse in an online blog, which led to the publication of her book.

'For a long time I didn't post anything because I thought it was private,' she said.

'However, a lot of people started reading the blog and saying it had helped them and that they had identified with it.

'In the past six months I've seen in and around society a complete lack of care for mental health issues.

'It really got me angry and so upset that people with this illness were not getting the help they need. I wanted to do my bit to help.'

The poems in the book, called When the World Went Dark, focus on different stages of her recovery to show journey towards getting better.

The verses are then linked by prose about mental health issues to put the poems into a wider context.

'I definitely feel the way I can contribute to the world is through my writing,' said Miss Precious, who now lives in Blundeston.

The book was launched at The Coconut Loft in Kirkley. It is on sale for £3.99 at The Coconut Loft, the Seagull Theatre and online at Amazon.

Have you got a Lowestoft story to tell? Call 01502 525825 or email andrew.papworth@archant.co.uk

Contact our health correspondent Nicholas Carding on 01603 772439 or email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk with any health issues you would like to raise.