A Consumer's Story:  Ngoc Tram Trinh Trough

When I was 26 years old I got a panic attack, when I was 24 I got depression and schizophrenia. I finished University 3 years ago (2006). It was so difficult for me during my studies. I just experienced panic attacks. Before that time I don’t know anything about the illness I had. It was so tough. I wanted to study some more but the illness made me stop doing this. All my family don’t have mental illness only me and I feel left out. It was so tough, so difficult for me to cope with the illness I have. No one told me or discussed the illness with me. I have had to deal with it for 12 years. Thank God I am still alive today.

In my culture because I am the eldest child “the eldest is the hardest “and a big responsibility in the family, because my parents were teachers in Victoria and in Australia.

Now I still get injections and every night I still take the medication, and still try my best to work harder and look for jobs.

There were hard times, now I still have tough times where it is difficult and hard for me. I am still learning every day, and still growing, and still going through life learning to accept that new things happen in the land that I am living in now. Step-by-step a new language, new culture, new people, and I have to learn to adapt in every way.

This is my new journey; everything is still growing for me day by day. I am living with my parents, two sisters, one brother and my niece. All of my family study a lot and work for society. Working and adapting to a new culture, my illness will not go until the day that I die.

There was so much to do to settle in, I had to take year nine instead of ten, then I left school to do my parents work, look after my brother and the family of “working parents”. I was a teacher on Saturdays at a Vietnamese school, my father was a tram conductor, and mum was working in a factory. They are both now retired.

I got certificate at school and University and had a difficult time. I did try hard at school and finished a Bachelor of Art (Community Development). I would like to thank many people who helped me continuously, I tried every day, and if I go out to help, and take care I will get the result of life.