These blogs are written by people with personal experiences of mental health problems at school, college or university. For instance, the blogs below include stories of teachers discriminated against by their employers and students who have opened up to friends and family about their illness.

It is incredibly important to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination at school, college and university: fear of negative reactions to their mental illness stops 32% of young people with a mental health problem applying for further education.

Simply talking mental health problem can help strengthen relationships, help recovery and challenge the stigmatising stereotypes that surround mental illness. By talking about mental health these bloggers aim to break down stereotypes and take the taboo out of something that can affect us all. Pledge to share your experience of mental health today >>

Becoming a Champion helped me realise the importance of talking

David, September 11, 2020

It was just six years ago that I first went to my GP about my mental health. The first time I went, I walked out because I couldn’t speak the words I so desperately wanted to say. The second time, I went with just a few sentences on a small bit of paper that I passed to the doctor... “I’m struggling, I can’t find a way out no matter what I do or try. I’ve felt like this for years, but I can’t cope no more”.

Anxiety is more than being too sensitive

Jodie, September 30, 2019

The doctors describe me as a patient with significant anxiety…but really, I feel like I’m just going a little crazy. It feels like people look at anxiety as a modern thing, something that’s new and can’t be easily understood. Some people describe it as putting a label on ‘being sensitive’, that ‘everything has a have a diagnosis these days’. 

My employer made me feel my depression was invalid

Jamil, March 11, 2019

People won't always know if you're struggling. Sometimes it feels like being silent is the only viable option. After all, why would you want to burden someone else with your problems?

Pages