Growing up gay in Gero: how Holden lived to tell the tale

At 19, Holden Sheppard was stacking shelves at a Perth supermarket and thinking about taking his own life. Turned out, he says, stacking shelves wasn’t the best job for someone feeling that way; alone with his thoughts for hours, then going home in the middle of the night, feeling the isolation that had been building since his early teens growing and solidifying around him.

Sheppard contacted a suicide support service that promised an email back within 24 hours. He’d rush home, open his computer and gratefully open the email from the only other human being who knew how he felt.

Holden with a friend at 19.

He would listen to a song, Joining You, by Alanis Morissette, that told him his thoughts were not the only reality. He would listen to this song on repeat.

With these small actions he tethered himself to the world and waited for the darkness to lift.

Holden now.

Sheppard’s now one of Australia’s brightest young literary stars. Thousands of followers check in for his latest daily cheeky Instagram selfie, guessing what colour his mohawk will turn next. He’s attracted national attention for his debut novel, Invisible Boys, which has already won three major awards before its official release on October 1. He’s spending October touring Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. He’s an ambassador for Lifeline.How did he come so far in just a few years? Read the rest of Holden's moving and uplifting story here on WAtoday. 

• If you, or anyone you know, needs mental health support, please call a helpline such as Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 224 636; Mental Health Emergency Response Line 1300 555 788 (Metro) or 1800 676 822 (Peel); Rurallink 1800 552 002; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; The Samaritans Crisis Line 08 9381 5555.

• For specialist help lines including for men, young people, the LGBTIQ+ community and rural residents, see this list.