A GROUP of seven Flintshire based women are celebrating their first 10 weeks of coming together to provide a vital mental health support network.

The ironically named 'Real Housewives of Flintshire' are standing up against a 'WAG' culture, where women are feeling pressured into trying keep up a 'perfect' image.

They feel far too many women are coming under increasing pressure to live up to the expectations of others, some of which are unrealistic and fuelled by the ‘perfect posting’ on social media, most of which are a loose version of the truth.

As a group, they wish to provide a platform that shares the reality of being a mum, step-mum, married or divorced juggling the pressures of everyday life in juggling the family chores, households, relationships and careers, in some cases running their own businesses.

Katherine Massey, the group's founder, said: ''We want to show the no-makeup days, the still in pyjamas at noon because I quite simply haven’t the energy yet days, to prove it is okay to not be okay. We want to share with others tips and experience to help support our resilience in the fast paced world, lift the confidence of our fellow housewives and support the need for space to recover from those strains.

''Through a Trusted Teamwork approach we will present a reality check to challenge the pursuit of perfection providing an honest insight of how we really manage, cope and sometimes lose it altogether.''

The group aim to create opportunities for others to build the confidence, self worth and resilience with a view of friendship within the team and a greater family network across Flintshire in support of each other.

The movement is a celebration of achievements, people loving themselves for who they are, and a movement against the ‘keeping up with the Jones’ mentality.

According to the latest study from NHS Digital, more than a quarter (26 per cent) of young women aged 16 to 24 are suffering worrying symptoms – more than three times the rate for men the same age (9 per cent).

Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, clinical director of the Priory’s wellbeing centres, said: ''Younger people of today – the 'touch screen' generation – see the internet as their friend but for many it is actually a huge distorting mirror, presenting a world of 'perfect' people with perfect lives against whom they judge themselves very harshly.

''This is particularly true for women, who worry much more about their weight and their appearance as a result of being deluged with social media. This worry fuels eating disorders, stress, and self-harming.''

And Stephen Buckley, head of information at Mind charity, said the rise in depression, anxiety and self-harm was down to a combination of factors.

He added: ''Young people are coming of working age in times of economic uncertainty, they’re more likely to experience issues associated with debt, unemployment and poverty, and they are up against increasing social and environmental pressures, all of which affect well-being.

''It’s important to avoid sites that are likely to trigger negative feelings and/or behaviour and to take a break from social media if you’re feeling vulnerable.’'

You can learn more about the Real Housewives of Flintshire's work by visiting their Facebook page where they post regular vlogs to help mental wellbeing.