KIM GARTHWAITE

I am the Founder of Don’t Ever Think All Is Lost (DETAIL), a journey that began from a personal place of struggle and a deep need to find hope.

As a Registered Nurse with years of experience in Mental Health, I worked in the field until the arrival of my children. Raising little ones presented its own set of challenges, and like many parents, I muddled through, learning as I went. But everything shifted when, two weeks after my child’s birthday party, my brain could no longer ignore the unresolved trauma I had been suppressing.

I was admitted to a psychiatric facility for a short stay, hoping to stabilize my mood and get back to my family. However, what started as brief treatment turned into nearly a year of inpatient care. Doctors deemed me treatment-resistant, and my family was told that recovery was unlikely. After being readmitted multiple times and battling with my refusal of treatment, I was taking 18 medications daily and undergoing shock treatment (ECT), with no end in sight. My doctors told me I was fighting a battle I would lose. For eight long years, hope seemed out of reach.

From my own journey with a mental health condition, I recognized a significant gap in education about self-care, whether during a mental health struggle, after recovery, or as a preventive measure. I desperately sought connection with others who had been through similar struggles, wanting to hear how they had fought back, what tools they used, and how they overcame their battles. But I couldn’t find them. So, I decided to find my own way.

I began researching holistic approaches to mental health, exploring nutrition, exercise, talk therapy, yoga, and mindfulness. Slowly, things began to shift.

Over time, I gained qualifications in Clinical Nutrition, Herbal Therapy, Personal Training, and Therapeutic Yoga and meditation. I’ve also been a speaker with Beyond Blue since 2015 and published my memoir, Potatoes & Other Criteria, in 2023.

My journey is one of growth, hope, and self-care, and it drives me to support others in finding their own path to healing, knowing that someone else has made it through to the other side. I am passionate about empowering people to support and bolster themselves, helping them discover the strength within to thrive.

When I’m not writing, speaking, running events, or teaching, you’ll find me singing badly to loud music, reading, nature walks, bird watching, dog patting, or weight training.