Living in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Sophie Hardcastle started writing at fifteen. Although misdiagnosed with Major Depression and admitted to hospital four times during her school years, she received a Premier’s Award for All-round Excellence and was fast-tracked into the Sydney College of the Arts. In 2013, Sophie was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder. On top of her studies, she accepted her chronic illness and decided to pursue what she loves – writing. Determined to help change the lives of young people living with mental illness, she is working with both Headspace and Batyr, a not-for-profit agency that aims to break the stigma surrounding mental illness.