“My depression started from when I failed my final year of university.. continued to try my best especially, when I live in Great Britain & my skin is black.”

“My depression started from when I failed my final year of university. I was so close to finishing my computer science degree which had been a journey of ups and downs and utter stress for me. So many times I felt like I wasn’t capable of achieving anything and felt like giving up. But I continued to try my best especially, when I live in a country like Great Britain and my skin is black. How could I get a job as a young black person in the field I wanted to have a career in, without a degree? I felt like the stress and pressure of society, friends, family and because of my race (‘you have to be 110% better than your white counterparts’) led me to a mental breakdown. I took time out from academia and eventually went and seek counselling. Talking to someone is really the first step to overcoming your mental illness or any problem you have. That open space — where you are not being judged and to have someone just listening to you; it was like I was able to get all my burdens off my chest. I am now looking to go back to university but to study medicine — the time away from university allowed me to really think about what I want to do with my life and that I love helping people. By being a Doctor I can help so many lives and even help save some.”