Simon - Brisbane Youth Service

I came to Brisbane Youth Service in January 2016 and I was looking for a fresh start with a new service that I thought could help me.

I’m a transgendered male, and I have been involved with the mental health and hospital sector since I was really young. I’ve been hospitalised over 40 times. I can’t really say it was very helpful at all.

When I came to BYS, I met the youth worker who was rostered on for that day, and I thought she was friendly and helpful. She told me about the Day-to-Day Living program, and also about the psychologists on site. I signed up for both.

I got a case manager, and frequent appointments with the on-site psychologist, and at a pace that I was happy with. I also got to see the nurse and the doctor in the clinic. I got help with housing, and the guys at BYS spoke up for me with the hospital. It was all for free. For me, I felt heard. I felt like my issues were important and they took me seriously. They looked past my diagnosis and looked at me as a person. I got to be involved in every decision about my life. They treated me as an equal. Would I tell others to come here? You bet.