A Mansfield woman with a passion to see mental health become a more socially-acceptable topic for discussion has put her own story into words to further awareness of the issue.

Kathryn Hill said Rebuilding with Rubble: Reclaiming Your Identity and Faith in the Fallout of Trauma is a story of hope and a celebration of refusing to let the darkness win.

It was written as a result of her own breakdown after surviving childhood sexual abuse and finally confronting her abuser at the start of 2021, as well as subsequently reporting it to the police.

“What followed was a distressing journey of loss and heartbreak, which led to a breakdown and an endless wait for psychological support,” Kathryn explained.

“What happened in the past isn’t pretty, but it isn’t where the story ends.”

A youth support worker for the NHS, she has had a 15-year career supporting the emotional and spiritual needs of children, young people, and young adults across a multitude of sectors in Nottinghamshire.

Kathryn added: “I have a heart and passion to see mental health become a more socially-acceptable topic for discussion, especially within Christian circles where it can often feel as if you’re doing something wrong in your faith if depression, PTSD, anxiety, and more are a persistent feature in your life, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Rebuilding with Rubble is designed to make it acceptable to ask the big questions — Why was I abused? Where was God when this happened? Why me?

“It’s intended to show survivors who are struggling with their faith that there is no time limit to healing and to help put them back into the driving seat of their own lives.”

Rebuilding with Rubble: Reclaiming Your Identity and Faith in the Fallout of Trauma is available on Amazon.