Claire's Story

I’d like to share part of my story not every detail, but the parts that shaped me, in the hope that someone else might feel less alone.

Around the time I hit puberty, I began to struggle with my mental health. By the age of thirteen, I was already seeing a counsellor and taking medication. Not long after, I was diagnosed with depression and a mood disorder.

My teenage years were really difficult. I struggled with my mood, my sense of self, and how to cope with everything I was feeling. At one point, I took an overdose of medication as a way of showing just how much I was hurting. I didn’t know how to ask for help in any other way, I just needed someone to understand that I wasn’t okay.

A while later, I moved away from home to live with my grandmother, hoping a change in environment might help. But things didn’t improve the way we had hoped, and I found myself struggling even more. During that time, I reached a point where everything felt too overwhelming, and I needed urgent support. I was admitted to a mental health unit, which at first felt confronting and difficult to accept.

Over time, though, something shifted. I began to see that I wasn’t alone. I met other young people who were also struggling, and it helped me feel understood in a way I hadn’t before. That experience became a turning point. I started to realise that I wanted things to be different, and that maybe I could find a way forward, not just for myself, but to support others too.

There were many factors that contributed to how I was feeling, including challenges within my family and my environment. Mental health struggles also run in my family, which helped me begin to understand that what I was experiencing wasn’t a personal failure, it was something real, and something I could learn to manage with the right support.

After leaving the hospital, I returned home, but things were still difficult. I made some choices during that time that I now see were about trying to cope and find space when I felt overwhelmed. Eventually, I found my way back home and began focusing on what my next steps might look like, including continuing my education in a way that worked for me.

So where am I now?

I’m still a work in progress. I’m continuing to see a counsellor and a psychiatrist, and I’m learning what supports me best. Some days are harder than others, but I’m moving forward, and that matters.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how important connection is. Reaching out, being honest, and supporting one another can make such a difference. We’re not meant to do this alone.

If you’re struggling, please know that what you’re feeling is real and that support is out there. Things can shift, even if it takes time. You matter more than you might feel right now, and your story is still unfolding.

I want to use what I’ve been through to support others, in whatever way I can, starting now.

Love,Claire