I identify as a proud mad and disabled person, a psychiatric survivor, I live in the Yorkshire area in a little flat with my partner.

After losing my twenties to a cycle of untreated psychiatric illness, homelessness, domestic violence and chaos, I decided to had to figure my shit out and find my people. I had reached a point where psychiatric services had rejected me, I struggled to work and my living situation was unsafe due to abuse in my home.

I began in a Wellness Recovery Action Planning group at MIND in Bradford in 2010, and continued to show up at peer spaces, learning with other people and facilitating groups.

I often say I wish I'd been given a road map of how to navigate madness and I think that has been my goal, to make the journey through despair less painful and confusing for people who find themselves in need of connection with people. Shame has been the defining feature of my life and I feel strongly that no one should be left to lose years of their life to shame and isolation.

Over the years I have focused on approaches like Wellness Recovery Action Planning, Open Dialogue, Somatic techniques, Disability Liberation practices, and finally took Alternatives to Suicide facilitator accreditation in 2024. I met Nancy Johns, who gave me a year of her time and expertise so that we could set up Not the Void UK.

When I am not talking about suicide with people, you can find me making linocut prints, sewing, journaling, walking outdoors and swimming.