At 17, Rachael Stevens was told she was "more likely to lose her life to mental illness than recover", but she shone on Tuesday, when her work in mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention was applauded by hundreds of people.
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Ms Stevens, now 24, was one of eight individuals and organisations recognised during the ACT Mental Health Week Committee Awards.
The awards kicked off ACT Mental Health Week, this year themed Act, Belong and Commit – something the youth mental health advocate and author of The Skeleton Diaries said she has long struggled with.
Ms Stevens was 15 years old when a diagnosis of anorexia derailed her life.
"I thought I would spend the rest of my life in an institution to be honest. I couldn't imagine a future at all," she said.
"It's been this crazy journey of realising there is life on the other side and there's always another tomorrow, which is something I didn't always want to believe. It's been life-changing to see that there is hope."
After recovering from the worst of her illness, it took another five years to reach a point where she could start to imagine a future again.
A month after she met her now-husband Tom, she was admitted to hospital after attempting suicide.
He said it had been inspiring to watch her journey from the psych ward to the stage.
"She's a completely different person and has gone on a huge journey to get here.
"It's amazing to see her up there accepting awards and speaking in schools – considering people didn't think she would get better."
Writing her book was cathartic – "I must have cried every single time I edited it," she said – but afterwards she felt strong enough to let her story help others.
Her passion now is to start positive, recovery-focused conversations about mental illness.
"It's important to tell people there is hope. When you've been through it yourself and you tell a young person 'I attempted suicide but I'm here today and there's so much to be grateful for, so many reasons to be alive', they find that really impacting," Ms Stevens said.
"I think it's important to be honest about where you're at, seek help if you need it and if you have a story share it."
Presenting the awards, ACT health minister Simon Corbell said a new public awareness campaign and expanding mental health support services into the Gungahlin region for the first time would go a long way to promote good mental health in the territory.
From his own battle with the black dog, he found conversations about his experiences were also potent tools to combat stigma and discrimination.
"I think the most powerful thing you can do is to share your story, to talk to others, to explain the lived experience," Mr Corbell said.
Also honoured at the awards were urban dance program Fresh Funk, Janet Milford, Ben Matthews, Andrew O'Reilly, Roberto Corriello, MensLink Canberra and Kylie-Ann of Sunflower Services.
