Lawrence Prestidge is a successful children's book author who has struggled with depression and alcohol abuse, and who lost his job as a primary school teacher because of the stigma around mental health.

Arguably, mental health is a topic more widely discussed today than perhaps 5 or 10 years ago, but it doesn't mean that people are any more comfortable dealing with someone suffering from depression and struggling with their mental health. The stigma is still there but less apparent.

Lawrence decided to write an autobiographical book about how he overcame depression and alcohol addiction called "The Boy Who Lost His Smile". He spoke candidly about his everyday struggles to stay alive and connected to the world without the aid of alcohol. Living with the knowledge that one day he would take his own life, an inevitability which he said he had come to terms with - a matter-of-fact.

Slowly Lawrence learned to forgive himself, to make the changes necessary and to reach out for help. Now, he says, he's at peace, surrounded by people who love and support him, and raise his energy.

Lawrence's story is a deep look into the many faces of depression and how faith got him through.

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