Hayley’sstory… Reach out…

Nnott many peoplel can say they’ve spoken about their most painful moments in front of thousands of people.

But Hayley Mulenda, a firstyear sociology and social policy student at the University of Kent, has done just that.

More impressively still, it comes only a couple of years after she was so overwhelmed by depression that she thought she might not reach her 19th birthday.

Now 21 and living in Canterbury, Hayley originally began her studies at Sussex University and says she struggled with the same pressures many young people face when they first move away from home.

“I don’t think I was mentally prepared to go to uni. It was completely different from being at home,” she says.

“I was just really overwhelmed.”

Aged just18, Hayley was running her own company, Insider Dreams, giving motivational talks at schools and universities, as well as blogging for the news website Huffington Post.

But ironically, being such a high achiever – which culminated in her being named the most influential black entrepreneur under the age of 21 by Be Mogul – made it difficult for her to admit something was wrong.

“I don’t think I knew where to turn for support. I found it very hard to feel vulnerable around people,” she explains. explains

“I ffeltlt ththat I had to be a certain way and be a certain person.”

At her lowest point, she says that on more than one occasion, she tried to stifle the pain by overdosing.

“I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t shower and I couldn’t brush my teeth. That’s when the suicidal thoughts started happening,” she continues.

“I used to cry to my best friend and say I didn’t think I’m going to see my 19th birthday. I was just in such deep pain.”