I first came to the youth services 2 years ago. I had just enrolled in University to get my teaching degree. Life at the time was very difficult, I was trying to study and deal with my mental health and life at home wasn't the best, I was self harming in order to relieve some of the stress I was feeling.

Koompartoo accepted me with all of my issues and I have never looked back.

I am now in my third year at Uni and have just left the medium term service and moved into the transitional house at Northmead. The support there is one meeting a week and, I now feel like I have the skills to manage independently in the community. I have one year left in the program and feel confident that I can complete my degree.

I will always live with my mental illness but through support and appropriate referrals to mental health services, I feel I can now live a healthy and productive life. Thank you Koompartoo staff and Parramatta Mission for having services like Koompartoo."

"My name is Adam* I am 15 yrs old.

I have been staying at Parrahouse youth refuge now for 2 months. I have lived out of home since I was 13 years old. I have always lived from one family member to another. I don't know my real mum or dad but would one day like to find them. I was really angry when I first went to Parrahouse, and wasn't going to school. Now with the support I have received I am now attending school every day. I used to cut myself to make me forget the pain I felt, but I haven't done that for 4 weeks now. I am learning how to make healthy meals and keep my room clean and have respect for others around me. I will be moving down to Koompartoo soon where I can stay for 2years.

I am feeling a lot more confident about my future now and once I get my year 10 I want to go on to Uni so I can become an engineer and work for the State rail department."

* names changed by request