Why do you think it’s important that we push for better mental health in Australia right now?
Raising awareness for better mental health is important as so many Australians continue to struggle with mental illness daily and we need to come together as a society to acknowledge that these are real problems happening to real people, and we need to educate people on options they have available to get help & support their loved ones. When we hear people speak on the topic of mental illness, it often comes from afar - maybe someone we have seen in the media, but much less frequently from someone we know. I want to change that for the people in my life, and encourage others to do the same.
If you are comfortable to share, have you experienced any mental health challenges in your own life?
In 2021 I started a new job, excited to be part of a global business and the opportunity it gave to grow my career. It started out tough - as a naive 24-year-old, I didn’t understand the impact of corporate politics and how my position within the business was being used to impact other strategic outcomes. Then in 2022, I was physically assaulted by a senior manager from my place of work on a night out. He was someone I trusted and thought I had a strong relationship with. I was wrong. I was asked to lie about what happened to me, and spent the next six months lying to the people around me while my mental health grew worse. I had nightmares about the assault; waking up in a cold sweat with my body shaking and head reeling. I hated that I felt mentally weak and that I was letting what had happened affect me so much. I felt trapped - I didn’t want to quit my job as it felt like that would be to admit defeat - so I suffered in silence, too ashamed to share what I was feeling with my family and friends. I constantly told myself I deserved what happened to me; and that I deserved to suffer. I was made redundant from work and at the time it felt like my career was over - and that I had nothing to live for. I believed I would never recover from my mental illness. Less than a month after being made redundant - I attempted to take my own life.
In 2024 I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Putting a name to my feelings felt extremely overwhelming, but at least I was now being told that what I felt wasn’t just me not being tough enough, my brain wasn’t properly coping with the experiences I had suffered through. It wasn’t until much later that I understood that what happened wasn’t my fault, and that someone in a position of authority had manipulated me into believing I was to blame.
How did going through mental health challenges impact your day-to-day life?
Dealing with my mental illness originally felt like an impossible mountain to climb. I isolated myself from my friends and family, self-harmed and became dependent on alcohol, decision-making coming from a place of desperation to take away the mental pain I was experiencing. I became a shell of the fun, energetic person I once was; and the trauma left me battling with suicidal thoughts. Suffering from undiagnosed mental illness and living in a bubble of toxicity created by my employment tore away my self-confidence, making me second guess every decision I made.
What did you find to be most helpful in supporting you to manage your mental health and/or recovery?
I look back on the night I attempted to end my life as the catalyst for turning my life around; and an opportunity for me to prioritise my mental health and work on taking pride in who I am. I regularly go to see a psychologist and I am learning to talk about my feelings. I have spent more time with my friends and family, prioritising my personal relationships whilst balancing the other important aspects of my life. Using the Beyond Now app run by Lifeline Australia has helped me develop a plan for when my mental health is at a low point and has added to my mental “toolbox” of coping mechanisms so I’m able to self-manage the negative emotions depression and trauma can create.
And what I am most proud of - at the time of writing, I am 850 days sober.
If you could share a message of your own around mental health within our community, what would that be?
I hope that by reading this, if you do relate - be brave and reach out to the people in your life you trust. Things do get better. However this resonates with you, don’t give up. Every day is another opportunity to move yourself in a better direction. And if you read this and believe you could do better at supporting those around you - please do. People’s lives are counting on it.
Why did you join The Push-up Challenge and what would you say to someone who is considering taking part in in 2025?
I take part in the Push-Up Challenge to raise money for the mental health services supporting the many people suffering from mental illnesses around Australia; and to raise awareness to the realities of mental illness and the ways available to people to seek help or help others. I encourage you to not just donate, but to actively take part! It’s a rewarding experience, it helps you get fit / stay fit and pays tribute to the individuals in our community lost to suicide.
Lifeline is available 24 hours a day to listen, without judgement. If you or someone you know needs crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or text on 0477 13 11 14.
Read more lived experience stories from others who have been impacted by mental health challenges on our Stories page.
