TODAY MARKS NATIONAL Coming Out Day, an initiative launched around the world to help people be open about their sexuality.

The campaign has been supported in Ireland by a number of well-known faces, including TDs and Senators, television presenters and drag queen Panti, aka Rory O’Neill.

The video above was produced to show what advice people would give to their younger selves if they had a chance for a heart to heart, giving themselves advice on how to handle the process of ‘coming out’ and talking about what they could have done differently.

It features Stella Poole, a 42-year-old transgender person who was once married and came out to her former wife at the age of 39; Paul Knox, a 29-year-old primary school teacher from Kilkenny who has been ‘out’ for seven years; Barbara McCullagh, 46, who came out to friends aged 15 and to her parents at the age of 21; Jack Robertson, 28 from Dublin, who has been open about his sexuality with his friends since he was 20; Vincent O’Toole from Tallaght who has been out since the age of 18 and Kirsty Park, 26 from Drogheda, who came out aged 21.

As part of the day, the LGBT Helpline is asking members of the public to share their stories on social media.

And we’d also love to hear about your experiences. Share your stories in the comments section below.