Sally, now aged 74, turned 35 before reaching a crisis point at which
she was diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder. Having recognised
as early as age 11 that 'something was wrong', she somehow managed to
find strategies to hide the pain and loneliness of this illness all of
her early life. She learnt survival techniques and found the strength to
cope with its highs and lows until finally reaching the extremes of
deep suicidal depression and hospitalisation. With diagnosis came a slow
but gradual awareness of the real challenges of her symptoms and, with
continuing professional help and medication, found the ability to live a
fulfilling life. Having graduated from St Vincent's hospital in 1968,
Sally worked as a registered nurse for the next 3 years. Married in
1971, she raised three children as a full-time mother before returning
to nursing in 1991 for another 12 years. From 2007–2009 she worked with
the Black Dog Institute's
INSIGHT Program for secondary school students mental health awareness.
She now enjoys her seven grandchildren, has discovered a talent for
drawing and painting, and remains passionate about raising family and
community awareness of mental illness and reducing the stigma associated
with it.
