A YOUNG woman who was on the verge of taking her own life overcame depression by competing in beauty pageants.

Sheri Harvey, 21, from Moredon, took part in her first beauty pageant six years ago to help her deal with her lack of confidence.

“I started at first for a bit of fun and I didn’t think it would go anywhere,” she said. “I had been struggling with my confidence and self-esteem and I met girls just like me who had struggled with bullying and being the outcast.

“It was refreshing meeting girls who took all the negatives and turned them into positives, it inspired me to do the same.”

Sheri was diagnosed with depression at a young age after suffering from bullying at school.

The young woman felt very alone at that time and found difficult to talk to her family about her mental health issues.

“I was taken out of the school I was in, which helped for a little while, but I was still struggling,” Sheri said. “I was then referred to what was known as CAMHS which a was saving grace I needed, and it helped me cope through to year 10.”

In year 11, Sheri moved to New College to take a specialised course that provided her with the support she needed.

She said: “I received a lot more support and I met an amazing group of people who understood. I will forever be grateful to them.

“I found having someone who understood me was the best thing for me.”

Sheri set up social media accounts to help raise money for several charities raising awareness for mental health.

“My platform has slowly become about mental health. However, over the last six years, I’ve fundraised for All Creatures Great and Small, Llyac Ridge, Headway Kent, Swindon Young Carers and Uplands,” Sheri said. “I had such a great response which is why am so excited for my events this year. They have allowed me to raise over £3,000 for the various charities.

“I’ve been fortunate to be a survivor, I just hope with more and more people opening up then our stories could help at least one person to know they are not alone.

“I was always told there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Sheri will be organising a winter charity ball later this year to support MIND, a charity helping people with mental health issues.

She said: “MIND is close to my heart because I was diagnosed with depression after attempting to take my own life.

“The work they do around mental health and the support they give has always been incredible.

“Thanks to MIND and my pageant journey I now feel more comfortable speaking about my struggles with my own mental health.”