Teacher Niamh McKenna opens up about her struggles with social anxiety

As World Mental Health Week gets underway – and with rising calls to Aware’s support lines – teacher Niamh McKenna describes her struggles with social anxiety and how she’s reaching out to support others.

Niamh McKenna, support buddy with Aware. 

Niamh McKenna couldn’t understand what was wrong. She was 17, living on campus, her first year in DCU and she didn’t want to do what other college students were doing – go out socially, make friends.

“I was too nervous, too scared. I had this real intense fear of being out on my own. I felt very alienated from everyone,” says the now 25-year-old after-school teacher.