Warning: This Shining Story addresses suicidal thoughts and self harm. If you or someone you know is struggling, call the 24/7 Samaritans helpline on 116 123. 

Taylor* shares her powerful mental health journey and encourages anyone who is struggling to pick up the phone and seek help: 

I’m Taylor and I’m 22 years old. I was lonely growing up. My dad played me against my mum and because of this, I thought my mum was the worst.  

When I was 10 my parents split up and my dad left. We ended up in financial struggle so I moved to my grandmother’s house. This had a huge effect on my mental health and I struggled to go to school. When I was 11 years old I went to the NHS’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) because I was self harming. CAMHS specialist teams provide free support and treatment for young people with emotional, behavioural, or mental health problems. 

It didn’t help me because I was young and didn’t tell the truth about what was happening to me. By the age of 12 I had attempted to end my life.  

When I was 17 years old I went back to CAMHS and again it didn’t help because I did not put in the effort. 

At the age of 22 in 2025, I was ready to engage with counselling at my local EveryYouth charity, Aberdeen Foyer. I had one session with a counsellor. I didn’t feel I matched with her and I left feeling unsure until the counsellor co-ordinator called another person who offered me sessions.  

Thanks to EveryYouth Healthy, I completed eight sessions. I was struggling with life in general and the counsellor helped me to see things in a different way.  

“Counselling helped me to see things more clearly and get a different perspective. I feel much better because I have the tools to help me to be more resilient.”

I think a lot about how perfection put my life on hold. Counselling helped me to see things more clearly and get a different perspective and not be hard on myself. I feel much better because I have the tools to help me to be more resilient.  

I feel happier and motivated to go out and meet friends. I am more positive. I have aspirations to go to college and get a job.  

I would advise another young person in a similar situation to seek help. Please pick up the phone. 

*Not real name