"I never gave up on myself and Kids Helpline never gave up on me."

* Please note this story discusses suicide

My name is Mikaela. I’ve had a long, painful and intense journey struggling with my mental health, but people would probably be shocked to hear this if they met me today!

I first started having suicidal thoughts at age 12, however I didn’t reach out to anyone for help until I was 15. That’s when I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It was at this point that a psychologist at a youth mental health service I was attending suggested I contact Kids Helpline – a service I had never heard of before.

My regular counsellor at Kids Helpline was awesome and arranged weekly sessions for us, but sometimes I would call numerous times a week in crisis when I was suicidal.

I always called Kids Helpline when I felt like I was at the end of the road.

I should be a statistic and my name should be on the suicide death register. That’s how bad things were for me.

I’m now 27, working part-time in the mental health sector and look forward to waking up every morning, which I think is phenomenal.

I won’t lie and say that my life is easy or perfect, but I’m off medication for the first time in 12 years and I’m feeling good.

Life is good, and I’m grateful to everyone that helped me get here, especially the team at Kids Helpline.

Please donate today.

We rely on your support to be there for the thousands of young people just like Mikaela who reach out to us for help.

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"I never gave up on myself and Kids Helpline never gave up on me."

Please help us support more young people like Mikaela

Please help us support more young people like Mikaela

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