I feel like I have to explore this darker side of life, because I don't have the choice to breeze through it and avoid depression. It's no joke to end up in an institution and have people saying to me, "You're going to spend the rest of your life here". I don't get to avoid this pain or pretend it doesn't exist for me and many, many other people. That's made me who I am. I'm more compassionate now.

100 Voices was published in the Hot Press Mental Health Special in conjunction with Lyons Tea and Pieta House as part of the Now We're Talking Campaign. For more please visit hotpress.com/now-were-talking/