I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 16 – and I was given a leaflet, and that was it. No one sat me down and explained it to me – I knew what I’d experienced from the age of 14, but I really didn’t know what any of it meant.
I’ve shared my story at events, with politicians, in the media – because I don’t want people to experience the same stigma and discrimination that I have over the years.
I try to find the positives in my experiences. Through See Me, I’ve set up the See Me, Hear Me choir, bringing together people from all different backgrounds. I’ve recently been involved in a project with King’s College London and the University of Glasgow too, working on avatar therapy for people who experience psychosis.