A Dundee teenager has told of his struggle with mental illness, which began when he was just 12.
Callum McNamara was taken to hospital on the eve of his 18th birthday in September after suffering a breakdown and suicidal thoughts.
The Broughty Ferry teenager had been suffering years of depression and psychotic episodes and was finally diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, severe chronic depression, and severe anxiety disorder in November.
Callum, who grew up in Qatar but returned to Dundee recently, has praised the NHS staff working with him to treat his conditions.
He plans to return to Qatar to set up a mental health service at his old school.
He said: “I first started to experience symptoms when I was 12 but I thought that the way I was feeling and things I was experiencing were completely normal.
“At that time I lived in Qatar, where there isn’t much awareness or services for mental health.
“The doctors just gave me pills and that was that.
“Upon moving back to Scotland to begin my university career my mental illness came to a head.
“On the evening of my 18th birthday in September I was admitted to my local mental hospital after having a complete mental breakdown.
“I lost my ability to speak and the majority of my memories.
“The psychotic voices in my head got worse and worse.
“Eventually I attempted to end my life which landed me back in the mental hospital being held in detention.”
Due to his conditions, Callum was forced to defer his entry to Edinburgh Napier University by a year.
He is fundraising to fly to Qatar, where he plans to give talks on mental health and organise a therapy service at his old school.
Callum added: “At the time (of the breakdown) I thought that would be me for the rest of my life.
“However, after chatting to a trainee mental health nurse that was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia I realised that instead of being the end of my life it was the beginning of a new one.
“I had the sudden urge to pursue a career in helping children and adolescents understanding and conquering mental health issues.”
To donate to Callum’s cause, log on to at his crowdfuding page.