But something wasn’t quite right, and at the tender age of 10, a chemical imbalance emerged.

Fifteen years later, the 25-year-old author has conquered his inner demons, and will be sharing his experiences in a free University of Tasmania lecture.

He said the focus would be on leaving high school and university and managing associated feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression through tumultuous periods of change. 

Mr Schwartz said that his mental illness was initially diagnosed as biological, and over time manifested itself through symptoms of constipation, tonsillitis and losing the ability to walk.  

Finding it increasingly difficult to cope, he ran away on his 15^th birthday. 

“They (my parents) eventually found me there crying and they asked me what was going on quite frantically and concerned and I said: ‘I want to die, I wish I was dead, I can’t keep doing this’,” he said.

He said he was treated with electroconvulsive therapy as a last ditch resort – though it was lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, counselling, and a healthy diet that would put him on the road to recovery.  

Mr Schwartz said it was normal for students to feel anxious or sad through periods of change, but accessing local support services and/or utilising coping strategies could alleviate the stress.

“It’s reminding them (students) everyone looks happy and healthy, because that’s what we’re told to do to smile, but a lot of the time many people are in the same position,” Mr Schwartz said. 

Mr Schwartz will also be joined by Launceston’s Chloe Cunningham, the founder of anti-bullying organisation Angel’s Hope.

Ms Cunningham had a childhood trauma misdiagnosed, ending up in hospital, suffering memory loss and paralysed after years of childhood bullying.

“For me, I didn’t speak up, and my main message is – it’s ok, you are strong enough to speak up,” she said. 

Navigating Life’s Transitions will be held at UTAS’ Newnham campus on Thursday, August 25 from 6pm to 8.30pm. Registration details can be found here. 

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