I'm Kit - a writer, adventurer and mental health activist. dedicated to creating change, dismanting stigmas and sparking conversations are suicide prevention and support for those struggling with their mental health.

Mental illness has been a major part of my life

Starting at the age of 12 with depression and anxiety. Then anorexia and bulimia taking over much of my teenage years.

But the darkest moment were found during my many years as an addict. Although my problems with alcohol and drugs weren’t obvious at first, after a traumatic event in my early twenties, things really began to spiral. Addiction became my way of surviving—but it slowly stole everything from me.

By the end April 2022, at the age of 27 I was a shell. I’d blown up every area of my life, hurt those I love and tried to take my own life 3 times. I was Riddled with the disease of addiction, trauma and the constant thinking that the best thing for me was to not exist anymore

But on June 2nd, 2022, I found recovery and with the help of others and some miracle, I stand here today full of love with life again. Now it’s not all been easy - in the last few years I have been diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar disorder but I’m coming to accept and understand what this means for me. But what I do know if that they don’t define me , they just help me understand myself better.

But For so much of my life, I felt misunderstood—by others, and by myself. I felt shame, I felt alone, and I didn’t believe I belonged in this world. So I vowed to make sure others don’t have to feel like this.

So I vowed to make sure others don’t have to feel like this. I started to share openly and honestly online and have been amazed by how many people have related and found solace in my words and poetry. But I started to feel like I to see the change I’m after, to really make some noise - I needed to turn my advocacy into activism. And so Stride beyond Silence was born.

Thats why I’m doing this trek -
To raise awareness, to create real change, to break the silence, to honour the lives of those who we have lost to suicide and to show that there is life on the other side of our darkest moments. It does get better. It gets good again.
And no matter how lost you feel—there is always hope. I know it might feel impossible but with one step, one at a time you will find yourself back in the light again and go on to do things you never dreamed possible.

There’s still so much more to do for Suicide prevention and mental health awareness. I hope stride beyond silence can make some noise, create change and really put mental health on the map.

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Followers

Sarah Clark

Sue Harrington

Charlie Pitts

Shawn Manana

Juliet Humphreys

Stuart Farrell

Jenny Mears

Lesley Aldridge

Katy Lotka

Michael Bauer