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Name: | Katie McBeath |
Age: | 20 |
Year of the Fix: | 2013 |
Location: | Dingwall |
Campaign: | Helping young people find help for self-harm |
My family knew there was something different about my behaviour growing up, but I was only diagnosed with mild autism last year.
Often bullied by people I knew from school, I began to feel everything was a bit of a struggle.
I was scared to leave the house, and I didn’t really have many friends to share my feelings with, so I began self-harming as a way of venting my emotions.
I did it to deal with the stress I was experiencing, but I knew I needed to get help.
When I sought professional help, I felt my problems weren't taken seriously enough at first, and the advice I did get was far too complicated and difficult to understand.
Though I still go through blips now and then, I'm overall in a much better place and want to help others who may be having similar experiences.
With Fixers I’m creating a campaign to offer vulnerable young people an opportunity to speak about how they feel.
There is a massive stigma associated with self-harm so I want them to know they’re not alone and that talking about your feelings is nothing to be ashamed of.
Here is a list of Fixers helping me with my Fix:
Danica Smith
Heather McAnespie
Ian Kennedy
Sophie McBeath
Sophie Taylor
Stephanie Lambie
December 2013
Here is some feedback from people about my campaign:
Nathan (15): 'It was really good.'
Charlee (16): 'I like that Katie made a twitter page for her project because young people use social networking.'
Courtney (15): 'Katie's project is really good, it will help a lot of people.'
Linda Muir: 'Well done Katie. You are an inspiration.'
Margaret Reid: 'So proud of you Katie.'
I received a certificate after completing my Fixers project, 'There's No Harm In Hope.'
Fixer Katie with her certificate
Other people who have seen my campaign are impressed and have left positive feedback. You can read some of this feedback below:
'This is such a positive project about an issue that is difficult to address. Well done Katie!!'
Clair Wallace, Nottingham Trent University
'Brilliant! Well done Katie. You are doing a great thing by talking about this and breaking down the stigma around self-harm. Speaking out and sharing is so helpful and will hopefully help more people onto the road to recovery.'
Wanda Mackay, Black Isle Leisure Centre
'Well done Katie, this is great. I will look forward to receiving some wristbands'
Shannon Rawlings
Tilly and Bella
Mason Latey
Jack H
Sam Womack
Ben Simms
Liam Thomas
Macauley Collinson
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Fixers
Olivia G
'Ben'
Becky Thorn
Jo Quinn
Hannah Carter
'Kate'
Jade Kingdom
Meghann
Alexandra Garrick
Becky
Timothy Cranfield
Ethan Mcinally
Sam Barakat
Shano