Stories to inspire you

When it comes to mental health, we all have our own unique stories to tell. But no matter what we are going through, there are other people experiencing it too.

Read, watch and listen to stories from everyday Australians about the signs and symptoms they experienced, how they got support, and what they do to stay well now.

Hearing their stories of recovery can help you imagine your own journey.

An illustration of two people walking a dog

Parenting, depression and coping with life - Georgie’s story

After a tough upbringing, Georgie wants to use her past experiences to create a safe environment for her family.

“I gave up on talking” - Daniel's story

Daniel shares his experience of living with a stutter and depression. After bullying saw him spend a year refusing to talk, Daniel had to learn to find his voice again.

"I'm well because I'm able to connect" - David's story

David Corduff first experienced depression and anxiety in his thirties. Decades later, he’s grown to understand how important feeling connected to others is.

“I thought I was dying” – Milli describes what a panic attack feels like

In her own words, Milli explains what it was like when she had her first panic attack and how she dealt with it.

“I’m a doctor, I shouldn’t get sick” – Geoff’s experience of work stress and depression

Despite spending decades helping others get better, Geoff’s greatest challenge was taking care of himself.

a photo of man with grey hair and a short grey beard standing at the beach

When depression and alcohol meet – Richard's story

Richard's alcohol addiction and battle with depression took a massive toll. After battling for years, he took action to turn his life around.

Trauma and losing my coping strategy – Nicole’s story

After suffering an injury while dancing, Nicole struggled to deal with the impact of losing her greatest outlet.

“I thought he’d be better off without me” - Sandi’s experience of post-natal depression

After wanting to be a mother all her life, Sandi found the reality of parenting tougher than she expected.

Self-loathing, depression and embracing love - Sean's story

Sean's perspective on the importance of connection and the impact that it had on him as he struggled to come to terms with his sexuality.

It's taken most of my life to learn I am worthy of living - Emily's story

Emily shares her journey of depression, anxiety and ultimately, hope.

Anxiety doesn't stop for your AFL career - Liam's story

Living out his dream in the AFL playing for Carlton, Liam thought mental health wasn’t something he had to worry about.

Stories from the LGBTIQ+ community

Sharing personal stories fosters connection, support, and understanding within the LGBTIQ+ community.

Here, individuals share their journeys, highlighting both the challenges and triumphs they have faced.

Explore stories from the LGBTIQ+ community

Iframe content loading...

Read Transcript

Share your story

The personal stories shared here feature Beyond Blue community members from our Speakers and Blue Voices programs.

If you would like to share your story, get involved today.

You can also anonymously share your experiences and chat to our welcoming peer support community on our online forums.

Visit our Forums Login to Forums

Illustration of two people in a hot air balloon

Subscribe to receive info about mental health, keeping well and stories from our community.

Subscribe to newsletter