'How do I explain that I'm scared of leaving the house?'

The thought of leaving her house would send 15-year-old Mary's severe anxiety spiralling. The teenager, from Huddersfield, said for two years she would often spend days locked in her bedroom unable to face the outside world.

"I would have panic attacks thinking about leaving the house," Mary said.

"It was so frustrating because I wanted to go see my friends and I wanted to have all these teenage experiences you see in the movies.

"It sounds really silly, but you see all these people doing stuff and you want to do it too, but it was so hard."

She said she found it hard to explain why she could not meet her friends and feels she "missed out" on part of her teenage years.

Mary has been receiving mentoring and support from the Mirfield-based charity Northorpe Hall Child and Family Trust for 12 months.

"Mary is an incredible young person," mentor Lydia said.

"She's has so many struggles, and so many struggles that she's hidden away really well, because on the surface Mary is such an articulate, confident young person - but the huge barrier was literally getting her out of the house."

Lydia says Mary was "frightened" and it was a very gradual process involving lots of walks, talking and problem solving rather than conventional sessions inside a building.

Northorpe Hall Child and Family Trust said too many young people, especially those who are neurodivergent or have additional needs, are struggling because schools are "under enormous pressure" and "specialist services are stretched".

Chief executive officer Chris Rowe said more investment was needed to ensure that "neurodivergent young people are not left to face additional hurdles alone at a time when they should be focused on building their futures".

The Department for Education has been contacted for comment about services for neurodivergent children.

Mary said things would have been easier if she had received an earlier diagnosis of her anxiety and got the support earlier.

"It would've prevented a lot of missing out on things, but I got it eventually," she said.

Mary has managed to take her GCSEs but said it had not been easy.

"It's kind of difficult, but I feel you are not your diagnosis," she said.

"It's you and what you know, the subjects that you're strong with, so I think it's all about having passion and drive and determination."

Mary's mum Carla is a single parent and has two other children, a son who is eight and a younger daughter six.

Her son has been diagnosed with autism and is now getting the support he needs.

However, Carla suspects her younger daughter is also autistic but, like her older sister Mary, is waiting for an assessment which is "frustrating".

Carla says Mary was "really struggling" before getting the support from Northorpe Hall Child and Family Trust.

"She thinks she's going to be a failure - but she's doing really well, even the school is proud of her - I'm proud of her," Carla said.

Mary said she chose to speak about her issues in case it might help someone else.

"I remember when I first started struggling, I was like 'no-one else has this, no-one else struggles with this, it's so stupid, how do I explain that I'm scared of leaving the house - it's such a stupid fear.'

"But I guessed that, out of anyone that's going to see this, if at least one person looks at this and goes: 'Oh, do you know what - maybe it's not so bad after all.'

"I always, always want to be the person that I wish was there for me."

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