by Elizabeth Patterson, Courtesy of the Cape Breton Post

18-year-old Cape Breton woman helping those with mental health issues

Inspiration herself, Hannah Battiste of Eskasoni.

Inspiration herself, Hannah Battiste of Eskasoni.

ESKASONI – “Suicide saved my life.”

It may sound ironic but for 18-year-old Hannah Battiste, coming close to death led to the realization that she needed to heal and be strong so she could help others in her community.

Battiste is in the process of writing a story, titled Suicide Saved My Life, which follows her journey from a suicide attempt in November of last year until the moment she faced an audience of 700 at a conference in Ottawa earlier this year. Writing is nothing new for the talented teen; her poetry has been published and she’s done a number of appearances where she has performed her poetry onstage.

“I had to turn my life around because I’m needed here. Times get tough but we have to fight. Figh ...

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