Hannah

Hannah (17) repeatedly attempted suicide after battling with depression, eating disorders and bullying.

She attributes much of her recovery to the anonymous information and support she received from TheSite.org.  Now studying and supporting others through TheSite.org, this is her story.

"I was bullied throughout school. Girls attacked me but I felt that adults were doing nothing to help. Thenwhen my grandmother died suddenly I was devastated but I couldn't tell anyone about how I felt because my whole family was suffering. To help me cope I stopped eating. I despised myself.  Having control over my body was one way of feeling better.

I started to self-harm out of frustration but my brain was so packed with problems I thought dying was a way to stop the pain. I tried to kill myself by taking an overdose five times before I was  finally admitted to hospital as an inpatient. There, I attempted suicide another five times.

On leaving, ten months later, I turned to TheSite.org for help. Because it is anonymous and non-judgmental I opened up in a way that I hadn't been able to before. By hearing other people's stories I realised that I wasn't alone and that I could get better. Even at the darkest times there was someone on the boards to talk to and always expert advice to give me direction. For the first time it felt like people were interested in me and how I was feeling and I finally I understood what I could do to help myself.

Now I'm studying for A Levels. I'm more confident and can talk about my problems because I'm proud of how far I've come. I really believe that the support I had online is what helped me make the first steps, it built up my inner strength and helped to knock down the barriers I had put up. I still go back to TheSite.org whenever I'm having a bad patch, because I know I can rely on it. TheSite.org keeps me going."