At just 14 years old, Jake* was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Just weeks later, feeling desperately alone, he tried drugs for the first time.
“By 15 I was a daily pot user,” Jake says. “Then, at around 19, I tried harder drugs and that’s when my life spiralled.”
What followed for Jake was a devastating cycle of addiction, attempted rehabilitation and deteriorating mental health. He spent time in hospital and made several attempts to end his life.
“My family didn’t know what to do,” Jake recalls. “They were completely lost at that point. They wanted to support me, but they didn’t know how.”
Jake was isolated, terrified, and at risk of dying by suicide.
But just before his 23rd birthday, Jake made a valiant decision. He would do everything in his power to break the cycle and get well.
