Liam* reflects on their mental health journey and dream of becoming a game designer:

My name is Liam* and I’m 21 years old. As a child I wasn’t given much attention. My parents would fight with each other and I didn’t have a great relationship with mother after my sister left the house. I came out as trans and my dad found that difficult to accept, as well as my autism.

High school was extremely bad and it was really hard to make friends. I tried getting help for my mental health many times but it wasn’t working.

I ended up moving into support accommodation at my local EveryYouth charity in East Anglia, The Benjamin Foundation, after a family breakdown. I called up my support worker and she suggested a bunch of support services. The Benjamin Foundation felt like the best one to go to.

I have had my own room for about two years now. There are two other people who live with me in the supported accommodation. I actually like it. Support workers help me with cooking and budgeting. The Benjamin Foundation is giving me tools so I can gain even further independence.

I have been seeing a counsellor, funded by EveryYouth Healthy, and it has been really helpful. Now I can focus on my future instead of my past. I have spoken to my counsellor about depression, anxiety, and autism. I was diagnosed with autism at a very young age but my neurodiversity, along with my sexuality, was a cause of tension in my relationship with my dad. I have learned that my autism is nothing to be ashamed of.

My counsellor and I also spoke about me being trans and trying to understand that. I had a very tough journey trying to figure it out. I have realised a lot more about who I am and how I shouldn’t conform – I can be who I am and be proud of it as well.

“I have realised a lot more about who I am and how I shouldn’t conform – I can be who I am and be proud of it as well.”

I’m trying to go back to college to gain a Level 4 GCSE maths qualification because I want to be a game designer. I have the right grade for English and I just need the right grade for maths. I want to learn game design and possibly go to university.

I love a whole bunch of games. I love the art behind them and the design. Playing games in high school was a very good way for me to escape and be happy in another world, where I could be myself. I want to be a game designer so I can give that back to other people.

I would also like to make video games to raise awareness about neurodiversity and people with disabilities. That was a main goal of mine at high school.

My advice to other people in a similar situation would be to not give up. If you find a therapy service that doesn’t work for you, there are many different ones. There are many different places you can go for advice and many different ways to help yourself.

To find out more about our EveryYouth Healthy programme click here.

*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.