While it may be a tragic tale, the 26-year-old Mayfield resident insists it must be told.

Between the ages of 11 to 17, Miss Timewell was sexually abused by a family friend.

‘‘My entire world was basically ripped out from under me,’’ she said.

‘‘My family had a hard time believing and accepting what had happened – I had nothing, no one to go to.’’

With a family that was not equipped to deal with the severity of the situation, Miss Timewell turned to drugs, resulting in an ice addiction she would battle for more than eight years.

Despite spending time in rehab and psychiatric hospitals, the lack of holistic treatment available meant she was unable to recover.

‘‘Society couldn’t support someone like me, I was either treated for alcohol and drug problems or treated for the sexual abuse,’’ she said.

Despite eventually getting clean at age 19 and taking up full-time employment, study and a relationship, Miss Timewell suffered a complete mental and physical breakdown.

It was not until she took part in a Heal For Life Foundation residential program that things started to look up.

Recognising the link between mental illness and childhood abuse, the Heal For Life charity offers an innovative recovery-based treatment approach.

It helps individuals like Miss Timewell, who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, to regain a sense of safety.

As a part of Mental Health Week, which runs until this Sunday, October 16, Heal For Life launched a national television campaign in which three Novocastrians, including Miss Timewell will tell their story of abuse.

For information on Heal For Life go to healforlife.com.au or phone 1300 760 580.