Good idea! I think mental illness is something that is so often overlooked and still has such a weird stigma attached... like just because you can't necessarily see it (unless it's something obvious, like the more severe disabling types) it makes it not real and not worth looking at. And especially amongst teenagers; the whole stereotype of 'oh teenagers get a bit moody and get a bit silly' kinda means people are less likely to pay attention to signs that something genuinely isn't how it should be, whether that be in terms of depression or something totally different.

It encompasses such a huge range of problems; it's strange how little you hear about it and how people won't discuss things.

Are you the same Christina that has been in Rangatahi and knows Amy Roche and possibly Kauki Tawhara? I've been there a couple of times as well
I'm in hospital at the moment after one of many suicide attempts last week, and my clinical depression/past eating disorder has spanned seven years now, so I'm highly experienced in these things.
I've also suffered at the hands of the massive stigma that society attaches to mental health. My local library refused to take me as a volunteer because of my mental illness, and I've had members of the public that I don't even know come up to me and tell me that my scars are hideous. People say that mental illness is a disease the same as diabetes or whatever, but it seems to be a whole lot more acceptable to have diabetes than schizophrenia.
Anyway, I'm here to talk to anyone that wants to

Having read your posts I think you have really touched on some of the most difficult things about mental illness, mainly the discrimination and how hard it can be even to understand things for yourself, let alone getting other people to understand. But , I think it is a bit like that ad with John Kirwan where he says to keep going until you do get someone who understands – they are out there. And slowly we will change the way people think about mental illness. Mental health awareness week is coming up from 6-12 October so this is a good opportunity to educate people.

It seems as though both of you are going through a really hard time at the moment and feeling pretty lost. I imagine you’ve been through a lot to feel that way.
A really cool thing that someone said to me once is the analogy of climbing a mountain. Paths up mountains tend to go in a circle around the mountain and often you feel like you keep coming back to the same place, but each time you are actually climbing higher and higher, even though it feels the same. I often think that this is what it’s like dealing with depression and mental illness, that often the view can be the same but you are actually moving forward each time.

Great that you are using the Tearaway forum to get support and talk through stuff, it’s important not to feel alone with what you’re going through and to make sure you have some support systems in place. You guys show a lot of courage to have come so far and to be sharing your stories with other people.

Just remember that there are people out there. Youthline is available 24/7 on the phone or you can text free on 234 from 8am to midnight for support.
The like minds like mine website www.likeminds.org.nz is also quite useful and has some good links as well as the mental health foundation. www.mentalhealth.org.nz

i was diagnosed with depression just over 6 months ago i have had 3 attempt of suicde and ended up in hospital for a week after one of them now my phyciatrist thinks i have borderline personality disorder i am to scared to admit to ant of the simptons because im scared of what might happen

should i be scared or am i just worried about nothing sum1 please help me i dont know what to do