Casey's Story

Trigger warning: Discussion of sexual assault and suicide.

Hi, my name is Casey, and I’d like to share a part of my story.

When I was very young, I experienced the sudden loss of a close friend in a traumatic way. It was something I didn’t know how to process at the time, and I didn’t feel supported in the way I needed afterwards. From that point on, I began to shut down and found it hard to connect with others.

Over the years, I experienced multiple losses of people around me, including friends who died by suicide. Each loss made it harder to trust connection, and I started to believe that getting close to people would only lead to more pain. So I stopped letting people in.

When I was a young teenager, I also experienced sexual assault. I didn’t tell anyone at the time and tried to carry on as though everything was okay, even though I was struggling deeply. Not long after, I entered a relationship where my boundaries were repeatedly ignored, and I experienced ongoing harm that left me feeling powerless and exhausted.

By this stage, everything felt incredibly heavy. For a long time, I struggled with thoughts of not wanting to be here and made multiple attempts to end my life. Looking back now, I see those moments as times when I needed support more than anything else.

Over time, something began to shift. I started to recognise that there might be a reason I was still here. For me, faith became part of that understanding. It helped me make sense of why I had survived and gave me a sense of purpose.

Since my mid-teens, I’ve found myself wanting to support others who are struggling. I’ve been there, and I know how isolating it can feel. Being able to listen, support, and be there for other young people has become something really important to me.

My hope for the future is to create a space where young people who are struggling can feel safe - somewhere they can go for support, connection, and basic needs like food, shelter, and someone to talk to. A place where they don’t feel alone.

I don’t want others to go through what I went through without support.

I’m still on my journey, but I’m holding onto that purpose.

Casey xx