Katja
Lives Not Labels Co-Founder
Katja
Katja received her diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD/EUPD) in March 2021 following years of struggling to access mental health services. She was later diagnosed with Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD), which is now her primary diagnosis, and an eating disorder (now recovered).
She is now classed as being in functional recovery (remission) from BPD.
Katja works in the education sector and has previously worked as a teacher in mainstream, alternative provision, prison and SEMH settings. She holds a counselling qualification and has worked in youth work, children’s residential care homes and with vulnerable adults. She also speaks several languages.
Katja is the co-author of the book Sorry My Mental Illness Isn’t Sexy Enough For You and is also a published author of several short stories. She is a regular panellist on The BPD Bunch podcast, where she has been a cast member since Season 1.
In her spare time, Katja enjoys hyrox training, running, reading and creative writing. She lives in the West Midlands with her family and two rescue greyhounds.
Mental Health Awards
Katja has appeared on numerous podcasts and radio programmes and has contributed articles on living with mental illness to online publications, as well as speaking at events and conferences. She was long-listed for a National Diversity Award in 2022 in the category of Positive Role Model for Disability, and was also shortlisted in 2022 for the UK Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards. In 2024 she was runner-up for the Janey Antoniou Award for campaigning from mental health charity Rethink.
Katja is also a participant in the Human Library project, where she publishes under the book category of Personality Disorders.