Hazel Katherine Larkin says she is lucky to be alive today.
A Kildare mother who considered taking her own life and those of her children says mental health services in Ireland were simply not there in her darkest times.
Author Hazel Katherine Larkin, who is from Celbridge, says it is just lucky she is alive today.
Hazel says she had to look to the private sector to help deal with the problems she faced:
Hazel says the mental health service provision for people in crisis is not sufficient.
She is highlighting her mental health struggles in the hope other women will feel comfortable talking about their difficulties: