Kat Williams

*TRIGGER WARNING* (second photo shows a close up of self-harm scars) I was laying on the sofa this morning and I noticed that the scars on my arms looked very prominent. I think it was the angle of the light, the particular position I was in and probably dehydration from last night’s sambuca ‘fun’ (drink responsibly kids). Regardless, it took me by surprise. For the most part I really don’t notice them anymore. They’ve been there for over half my life and I don’t even really think of them as scars any more, it’s just how my arm looks. I haven’t cut myself in over 10 years, and although I do still have some struggles, self-harming is one thing I can categorically say I 100% came out the other side of. I was actually talking about it with my mum the other day. It’s difficult for me to remember a lot of my teenage years (I think my brain blocked a lot of it out, my memories are extremely hazy) but talking to her about how she and my dad felt around that time, how they dealt with it, what it was like for them and my two younger sisters… it just really made me realise I should be doing more with my platform (cringe) to talk about this stuff. Many mental health issues are discussed so openly these days (anxiety, depression etc) but there is still a HUGE stigma, and in a lot of misunderstanding, about why people (particularly teenagers) self-harm. Plus, unlike many of the other mental health issues, the scars of a self-harmer will LITERALLY be on their bodies forever, a physical reminder of a painful past. I want to share my story in the hope that it might help just one person that needs it. I’d love to be asked to be an ambassador for a self-harm or mental health charity one day, or hell, maybe even start my own. Obviously, I’m not an expert in any of this stuff but I’d love to be able to use my experiences to help self-harmers and their families who are still going through it. If I can come out of the other side and have a life filled with joy, love and rainbows then they, and you, certainly can too