'Hidden stories': break the silence around mental health issues
Talking to someone is often the first step
Written by
Sayha Sam
“I say I had a breakdown, that’s normally more acceptable to people... and then I slip in at the end that my last diagnosis was paranoid schizophrenia.”
These are the words of a schizophrenic in the latest ‘Hidden Stories’ campaign by Mind: rational even though this person suffers from an illness, and underlied by a wish for acceptance.
In any one week, 1 in 6 of us will experience symptoms of mental illness. The figures, however, tell only part of the story, and ‘Hidden Stories’ is a new campaign at UEL with a human touch. Through storytelling performances, you will hear student experiences of mental illness, distress and recovery, and explore the impact through the lens of different cultures and religions. As UELSU Volunteer Coordinator Geneviève Laurier explains: “The silence around mental health is deadly. People can get to a crisis stage without any of their friends or family realising... By that point it may not be possible to undo some of the damage: they may have lost a job, or their partner, or developed a more serious mental illness.” All good reasons for you to ask for help if you're in a bad spot.
UEL is supporting the ‘Hidden Stories’ campaign and it seems to be already making headway.
You can take part in the campaign with voluntary roles in leadership, events and much more, by contacting suv@uel.ac.uk.
If you are suffering from emotional difficulties or who would like someone to speak to, contact wellbeing@uel.ac.uk for more advice.