А mum's worst nightmare 'WE GOT THROUGH IT TOGETHER'

Melanie thought her daughter was just being a 'typical teen, but there was more going on

- Fleur Guthrie

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Throughout high school, Alex Medland had always been a high-achieving, self-motivated student, putting the pursuit of A-grades ahead of her mental wellbeing.

And mum Melanie reckons when you're a bit of a perfectionist, like her eldest daughter, you follow through with 100 percent commitment to everything - including anxiety and depression.

Although the pair can share a wry smile about it now, they don't downplay the family's suffering after journeying alongside Alex, then 17, as she battled severe mental illness in 2018.

What started with regular tears, a panic attack at her school ball and slowly withdrawing from family time, scarily turned into depression, self-harm and attempted suicide.

“Sometimes when your child gets sick, you think it's your teenager just being a teenager and you don't know if them sleeping in is something you need to be more concerned about," says Melanie.