A JUKEBOX that is powered by emojis has been created to help encourage young people to talk about how they’re feeling.

SeeMe is launching the initiative after new research revealed only around a quarter (26%) of young people aged 12-26 would tell someone if they were struggling to cope, compared to 67% who would tell someone if they were feeling physically unwell.

To use the online jukebox, said to be a world first and backed by the band Admiral Fallow, young people enter an emoji to represent how they are feeling, and the feelsfm.co.uk site then generates a playlist to match their mood.

It also gives them the option to give their views on what makes it hard for them to share their feelings and can point them to support lines such as Childline and Samaritans depending on their response.

The campaign is being backed by £74,000 from the Scottish Government.

Calum Irving, See Me director, said: “Everyone has feelings, everyone has mental health, and most people listen to music.

“We want to bring this together, so young people can express how they are feeling without worrying about stigma, and get songs to help if they’re struggling.”

Research for SeeMe found almost a third (62%) of young people also said they think people are treated unfairly if they say they have a mental health condition, and only 31% would tell someone if they had a diagnosis.

However 72% said they would be able to talk to someone if they thought that person was struggling with their mental health.

Shah Gill, 21 from Paisley, struggled with his mental health when growing up and said music helped him cope.

He said: “When I was in school I was bullied. Often I would struggle with eating habits. I had a lot of insecurities and self-doubt. It wasn’t acknowledged by teachers.

“It took me a long time to figure out it was an eating disorder.

“I listen to certain types of music when I feel a certain way. If I’m upset I listen to something emotional or powerful and I’ll listen to lighter music which can help me to stop worrying about things.

Joe Rattray, bass player with the band Admiral Fallow said:”It’s vital that young people feel enabled and empowered enough to speak about how they are feeling.”