Saskia’s story
Saskia is a 23-year-old PhD student in Newcastle. Saskia is also an NCMH Research Champion, helping to spread the word about our research. This is her story:
Hi, I’m Saskia. I’m 23 years old and based in Newcastle. In my spare time, I enjoy both watching and playing netball. I’m about to begin a PhD in Psychology, focusing on transdiagnostic approaches to neurodiversity – an area I’m passionate about and excited to explore further.
I began struggling with my mental health at the age of 12, when I started experiencing depression, anxiety, self-harm, and anorexia. It took a long time to access support – partly because I was reluctant to seek help at first, but also because I often fell through the gaps in services. I wasn’t considered unwell enough for eating disorder services, but I was seen as too complex for general mental health support.
Those years were incredibly difficult and chaotic. A major turning point came when I finally received a diagnosis of autism at the age of 22.
“My autism diagnosis helped me reframe and understand so much about myself, and it marked the beginning of a much more stable and self-compassionate chapter.”
Going to university also played a huge role in my recovery. Gaining independence and building an identity separate from who I was when I was unwell helped me grow in confidence, develop self-awareness, and build a life that works for me.
I first learnt about the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) when I was a teenager. At the time, I was looking for opportunities to take part in research as a way of contributing to a better understanding of the mental health conditions I was struggling with. It felt important to use my experiences to help researchers learn more and hopefully improve support for others in the future.
For example, I took part in a study looking at mental health in autistic people. It involved filling out some questionnaires, which was quick and easy to do online.
I’d recommend taking part as it’s a great way to contribute to research and help improve understanding and support for others in the future. Sharing lived experience really does make a difference.
I hope that NCMH’s research will help improve understanding of mental health conditions and lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and support for people affected.
I’d like to see it make a real difference in people’s lives by informing services that are more effective and accessible.