Hailey Parker has been through a lot. She's sharing her story publicly to help others who have experienced similar struggles.

Since a very young age, Hailey can remember feelings of depression and later thoughts of suicide.

“It started when I was little,” she said. “I was, I witnessed and experienced physical and emotional abuse, and like in the household. And eventually, in middle school I started self-harming, and come high school, I started being dependent on weed.

"Last year was my breaking point and … I didn’t want to feel that way anymore. So, I voluntarily went into inpatient.”

During her treatment, Parker was able to rationalize and reflect on the trauma that brought her so close to ending her life.

“Since being on the correct meds for me, and being supported by my doctors and therapist, I’m so content, and I now don’t think about the things that used to be so debilitating to do,” she said. “Now I’m happy to do them. And I feel so grateful because I get to like wake up every day and feel and happy that it’s a new day.”

Parker’s psychiatrist, Dr. Kevin Martin, is working with her using Aptihealth’s service for mental health. It focuses on providing fast and comprehensive tele-health care.

“We need to say to them, ‘I am so sorry to hear you say this. You must be hurting so badly to have these kind of thoughts and feelings. I’m glad that you told me’ we are going to get you help,’ ” said Martin, Aptihealth’s chief psychiatric officer.

What that "help" looks like, whether through Aptihealth or otherwise, can be different for everyone, but Parker hopes that by sharing her experience, people overcome the stigma of suicide and depression.

“I feel like people think that like accepting the fact that you need help, or admitting that you need help, is … weakness or you shouldn’t have to. And I think it’s very strong of people to ask for help when needed,” Parker said.

“It’s not your fault why you feel that way, but it is your responsibility to get the help you need and take responsibility for your own happiness so that you can live your best life, and you are proud of yourself. And you can accomplish what you want to.”