Milly Harvey

The difference a diagnosis makes

Around the end of 2024 / beginning of 2025, I found myself suddenly spiralling. Everything felt too hard, too heavy. It felt like I was drowning and I couldn’t remember what it felt like to feel like myself. I was depressed, and anxious, and the world felt like it was falling. My first therapy appointment was the first time I was made aware of the possibility that there might be something else there. My therapist asked me about my interests, about how I like to go about my day. He asked about my friendships and my experience with trying to maintain them. And slowly but surely a pattern emerged. 

Being told that I met the criteria for an autism diagnosis felt like a chance to forgive myself. It created a new framework in which to support myself and to begin to heal and better my mental health. Finding myself in stories I read or people I met, I felt for the first time in a long time that it wasn’t that I was wrong or not enough, but that I needed to do things a little differently. 

I am walking for autism this year because of the comfort and grace and reassurance that hearing that word was for me. Lack of resourcing means missed diagnoses, missed opportunities for support and missed chances for connection and community. 

Your support means the world. Thank you 💛

I’m walking 7k steps a day this May to support Autistic Australians

I’ve stepped up to Walk for Autism. Please show your support as I walk my own brilliant way for Autistic Australians and their families!

Did you know? Because the world is not autism-friendly, 70% of Autistic people in Australia experience mental health challenges.

That's why I'm walking 7k steps a day in May to fundraise for Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia). Can you please support me?

Your donation will help deliver services that support Autistic people to live their best life.

Funds raised can help Autistic people and their families access earlier diagnosis, provide autism-specific schooling for children on the autism spectrum, support research and help create inclusive, autism-friendly environments.

Please support my Walk for Autism and donate now. Thank you so much!

My Walk Stats

Steps

217,014

My Goal

217,000

Tess, Alex, Georgia, Chloe, Dan and Tom Harvey

$515

Thank you so much to my biggest supporter, Tess, Alex, Georgia, Chloe, Dan and Tom Harvey, for donating a trailblazing $515 to help create a more autism-friendly world.

Thank you for your brilliant donation

Tess, Alex, Georgia, Chloe, Dan And Tom Harvey

$515

Anonymous

$106.12

Well done !

Angela Sloan

$106.12

Inspiring words and a great cause! Wishing you well every step of the way.

Jeraldine Mow

$100

Proud of u for doing this xx

Richie Maher

$75.81

Go Mills. You’re a star ⭐️

Nays Baghai

$74.13

Nathan

$70

Milly Harvey

$54.84

Grace Howarth

$39.54

Cat Hyams

$23.50

Good on you Mille - proud to be a supporter