A HEARTBROKEN mum of a Glasgow girl who took her own life after being bullied has shared a harrowing ‘ten year challenge’ as she hopes to raise awareness of mental health and suicide.

Britney Mazzoncini took her own life aged just 16 after being subjected to sickening attacks of online bullying.

She had her whole life ahead of her, with plans to join the police force on her 17th birthday that October.

She was rushed to hospital on July 7, 2016, but could not be saved.

In the years that followed, devastated mum Annette McKenzie has tirelessly campaigned to open the conversation about suicide and mental health, as well as bringing forward the need for consent for mental health treatment for people under 18.

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On New Year’s Eve, the 38-year-old decided to join in an online trend - the #10yearchallenge - but with a twist.

The challenge saw participants share hilarious throwback pictures of themselves at either end of the decade, but Annette’s post was must more hard-hitting.

Her picture, the “harsh reality for so many”, showed Britney aged 10 at the start of the decade, alongside a picture of her decorated grave at the end of 2019.

Annette told the Glasgow Times: “I had seen the challenge going about Facebook and at first I was upset and sad as Britney alway did these kind of challenges.

“Then it made me think what way could I involve Britney and also send a message, that’s why I chose to do it with Britney and her headstone, I knew it would be hard hitting and a hard reality.

“I saw it as a chance to show people the reality a lot of us are living, I wanted to turn it around and use it in a positive way.”

Annette admits her family find it hard to celebrate the festive period - adding that Christmas “is a time that Britney loved more than any”.

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She continued: “The years have only become harder as we try to carry on, it’s affected each of us different but we are certainly not the family we once were and how could we be ?

“The years only bring reminders of things that we are missing out on, we had Britney’s 18th and that was hard , and this year she would be turning 21 and her sister would turn 18 exactly a week later.

“You see people say time it gets better but it doesn’t, not for us.”

The heartbroken mum believes faults within our “broken” mental health system need to be fixed and that Britney’s death “could have been prevented”.

“To me it’s been important since I lost Britney to speak out to show others it’s not a weakness to need help and it’s ok to not be ok and not know why,” she added.

“So many young lives are taken by suicide that I believe could be prevented.

“To try and take away the stigma we must raise more awareness so that it becomes apart of life we ain’t afraid to talk about”.

Annette is currently petitioning parliament on consent for mental health treatment for under 18s. This can be found here.

If you or anyone you know is struggling, you can call the Samaritans at any time from any phone for free on 116 123