“In secondary school, there would be this bully who would take my stuff and throw it across the classroom and if I tried to stop him, I would be hit.

I would dread going to school and just before I entered the classroom I would always stop outside and wonder, “What is this guy going to do to me today?” 

This caused me to feel very unmotivated with anything to do with school.

Back then, the stigma for mental health was really bad and there was a very negative association with therapy and there was a sense of shame that we had in walking to the counsellor’s office. So at that point in time, it was not on my mind at all to see the school counsellor.

Having experienced bullying in the past, I understand the effects it can have on people.