About two years ago, I was struggling with my mental health. I was self-harming a lot and I was suicidal.

Around the same time, I attempted to take my life for the first time. After that, I was referred to child and adolescent mental health services where they diagnosed me with depression and anxiety disorder.

I also started to develop disordered eating patterns and perfectionistic traits which made my life harder.

She would say I wish you weren't at this school, you have no friends, you are the worst kid in this school… Eventually, in term four, I told my teacher that she was doing it and as I was explaining it she didn't understand what I was saying.

I burst out in tears and my entire class stopped what they were doing and were looking at me. I felt so embarrassed.

After that I felt so much better. My teacher gave me a web address to use whenever I need to and that web address was Kids Helpline.

It gave me reasons to hate myself. I thought I was the reason why they divorced. I finished primary school and thought high school would be a blank slate, a fresh page or a new chapter. But in reality it was the catalyst to where I am now. I realised no one else was in charge of my happiness except for me. The catch… I'm bisexual and my mum has traditional views.

One year when we were finally in the same class I saw her with two different girls - they were chatting and ignored me as I walked past. I was broken. We got to choose where we sat and she went with another girl. I sat next to the last girl left, Alice. Her best friend was sitting with another girl too. But I was cautious. I was expecting a fight, but it didn't happen. 

I found Kids Helpline through school and started reading other peoples’ stories. It makes me feel better knowing I'm not alone in this stress and depression rollercoaster.