My parents struggled with their own mental health

Content warning: contains mental health content that may be distressing

My father tried to kill himself a few times and I had a mother who was irrational and neurotic. Between the two of them, they had many fights that I got dragged into, being the only child. I was unhappy, stressed and turned to harming myself in order to cope. I knew that harming myself was not a good coping mechanism but at the time, I couldn't bring myself to care. I'd go for months or even years without harming myself but then something would happen and I'd fall into a sneaky hate spiral and start all over again. 

The counsellors at Kids Helpline were there to just listen to me talk and it helped me see things from a different perspective.

They helped me gain independence from my family after graduating high school and I've met someone who helped me realise that it is possible to be in a relationship and be happy. I won't say my life is perfect now. But with the help of my partner, we're working through it.