A group of pupils from Kirkby High School have played a pivotal role in creating a novel aimed at supporting teen mental health.
Gate @ Eight has been written by ZunTold author Vicky Martin and has been informed by the views of eight young people, aged 12 to 15 years, who attend Kirkby High School.
Their views and experiences have helped to shape every aspect of the novel’s character development and storytelling. This also informed the title of the novel with the characters meeting each day at Austin’s Gate at 8am.
Gate @ Eight addresses teen mental health experienced by two best friends battling different situations, family friction and the power of breaking the silence around mental health issues and accessing support.
The group took part in seven co-production workshops which focussed and shaped the initial concept, characters, storytelling approaches and design. Feedback from their involvement included:-
A Year 8 pupil said “I like creating art and writing. I understand more about my health and my feelings.”
A Year 9 pupil said “I loved it! Most of all I liked the awareness of subjects that are sensitive to me.”
A Year 9 pupil said “I got involved in the project because of the idea of being able to help in creating something so important. I love the story we created because it’s easy to relate to.”
Developed by national charity The Reading Agency in partnership with independent publisher and bibliotherapy service, ZunTold – the project is a pioneering new approach to creating literature for young people placing them directly at the heart of the creative process.
Now, the book is in production and will be published in March 2027 and it will form part of the Reading Well for teens book list, which supports teens with health and wellbeing.
Cllr Christine Bannon, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Health, said “What an amazing achievement and truly something to be incredibly proud to be part of. The views and experiences of the young people will hopefully resonate with others and importantly, help to support youth mental health issues. Well done to everyone involved and I’m looking forward to seeing the book being available next year.”
Elaine Bousfield, Founder, ZunTold said: “This collaborative approach has added huge value and authenticity to the project. By amplifying young people’s voices in the development of a story that reflect their experiences, we’re creating a book that will genuinely resonate with its target audience. This is a really exciting development in health publishing and demonstrates the healing power of bibliotherapy.”
Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “At The Reading Agency, we see first-hand how the right book at the right time can make an enormous difference to young people’s wellbeing. This pioneering co-production model ensures that the voices and experiences of young people are not just consulted but are central to the creative process. By combining lived experience with clinical expertise, we’re developing resources that are both authentic and effective in supporting teen mental health.”
The Reading Well programme helps people understand and manage their health and wellbeing using books endorsed by health professionals and experts with lived experience available from public libraries. For more information visit: www.reading-well.org.uk and www.zuntold.com.
ZunTold is an independent publishing company and therapeutic service that focuses on harnessing the healing potential of books and stories. Knowsley Council commission them to provide emotional wellbeing and mental health support to young people in the borough.
Anyone aged 11 to 25 in Knowsley can access the ZunTold mental health support service by visiting www.zuntold.com and entering the code k2024.