I'm Olivia Bligh, 18 years old and have struggled with mental illness for the past three years. Major Depression, Social Anxiety, EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) and self harm have been a large part of my life for far too long. I want to move away from these negative diagnoses and prove to my illnesses that I am a survivor. When they almost won; they didnt. I stood back up and knocked them down and I will continue to do so. I believe this is now my turn to make a difference in this world and help reduce the stigma related to mental illness. 

On Friday 27th March 2015, just over a year after I cut all of my hair off, I will be doing a skydive in Whitchurch, Shropshire. The money raised from this will be going to Mind, the mental health charity, that helps to save lives and also raise awareness for mental health.

Mental illness will be a part of 1 in 4 teenager's lives at some point. That's an incredibly high statistic for something that is still so discriminated against and misunderstood. 

Mental illness isn't glamorous in any way, shape or form. Lives are on the line, and far too often the lives of wonderful, yet vulnerable people are taken from us by these illnesses. These deaths can be prevented. They really can. I want to be able to show people that life does get better and that suffering from your own thoughts is nothing to be ashamed of. You're you, and no illness can ever take that away from you.

So often mental health issues are thought of as a 'phase' or something that we can just 'snap out of'. But they're not. They are life threatening illnesses and something that ought to be more known about. For example, did you know that if someone is diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, they have a higher mortality rate than someone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. This is either through complications of malnourishment or through suicide. That's a scary thought isn't it?

I never imagined that my teenage years would be plagued by such an illness. I am now using my past negative experiences, and turning them into positive ones to help those who are still struggling.

No one should struggle in silence. And if you are sat reading this now, questioning whether to tell someone about how you feel, please let this be my message to you: Tell them. Tell someone you trust and can talk to. We all need the real you back in this world, because without you it isn't the same. You are worthy of happiness and I believe in you. Don't wait any longer, speak up now and allow people to help you. Please.

So please, help me raise awareness for this taboo topic by sharing this with your family and friends and donating what you can. Thank you. 

If you would like to read more about mental health and my experience upon breaking down the stigma; please take a look at my writing blog:

www.UniteToFightTheStigma.blogspot.com