Anne Sophie Cornelius: 18 lessons I learned last year
Last year was a wild ride, but one full of lessons and experiences that I really needed. Here is what I’ve learned: 1) Dark humour and memes about the meaninglessness of life might make you laugh for a time but be careful it’s not the sign of something deeper, and darker. Depression can be a … Continued
Ruth Durkin: Spotting the Signs That I’m Ill
The term Bipolar by definition states that two polar opposites exist. I have Bipolar II Disorder which means my low periods are particularly dark and that my mania is called hypomania, in that it doesn’t escalate to the extreme heights of Bipolar I Disorder’s mania. The pictures I have chosen to use alongside this piece … Continued
Cerowyn Browne: Nizam Speaks
Nizam is a school teacher and poet from London, and wrote this poem when he was struggling with depression. I had the chance to interview him over the phone about his poetry and his experiences with his mental health. He told me that around the time he wrote this poem he was finding it extremely … Continued
Peter Shaw: How Volunteering Changed My Life
I’ve written previously about how my experiences of volunteering, particularly with the Time to Change campaign, have helped me to take back control of my story. Inspired by Volunteers’ Week, I wanted to expand further on how joining the movement in 2016 as a Young Champion has changed my life and helped me to grow … Continued
Peter Shaw: Why Claire Eastham is my role model
I don’t generally believe in role models, as I have often found the idea to not be one that appeals to me. The whole idea of having a role model is very personal and I’ve never really been the kind of person who looks up to others and holds them on a pedestal. People are … Continued
Jack: Knitting Yourself Healthy – Hobbies and Mental Health
I (a twenty-four-year-old male) recently took up knitting after a lifetime of considering it an ‘old-lady thing’. I think this stereotype was born after I failed to master the craft despite my Nan’s best efforts to ingrain knit and purls into my brain. Maybe my stereotyping of knitting was mainly out of spite, putting it … Continued
Cerowyn Browne: Why Does Creativity Make Us Calm?
As I sit painting a 3D cardboard K with swifts and flowers for my friend Kate, I feel so calm, as though the concept of time changes and nothing but that moment exists. Most people have experienced that feeling before, of being so engaged in creating or crafting that your thoughts are quietened and time … Continued
Ruth Durkin: Interview with Leon Taylor
I was asked to interview Leon Taylor for Sheffield Flourish. Leon describes himself as having been a ‘problem child’ and has more recently been exploring physical activity as a way to manage his ‘condition’. I had watched his Ted Talk and I was really interested in speaking to him. As someone with mental illness I … Continued
Jessica Gibson: Top Ten Things That Help Me on a Bad Day
Top 10 things that help me on a bad day: A bath – so soothing to dip my head underwater and blow bubbles. Something simple such as taking the time for a hot bath, some lo-fi hip hop on YouTube playing in the background can really help to ease the tension from the day. Flowers … Continued
Peter Shaw: How I’ve Taken Back Control of My Story
Having struggled with both social anxiety disorder and depression for many years without being properly diagnosed and therefore not understanding what I was going through; I have only recently become aware of the need to have control over my story of mental illness. I now know how great it can feel to be in a … Continued
Charlie Roebuck: My Story(ish)
I had a privileged upbringing. My parents and grandparents would do anything to help me achieve what I wanted and for this I can’t thank them enough. I was lucky. I was a natural at most things, picked up new skills easily, and managed to breeze through a lot without trying. Sport was always at … Continued
Ryan Bramley: Coming Out
It’s time to come clean. No, not like that. Not that I haven’t questioned or critiqued my sexuality before…I think most of us do. For the moment, I’m entirely comfortable in that aspect of my life. But here it is: a couple of weeks ago, I received a piece of paper that said, in no … Continued