Deconstructing Stigma: Changing Attitudes About Mental Health is more than a series of larger-than-life photographs of people who have been affected by mental illness. Each story is told through the eyes of the campaign’s participants as they boldly tear down the misconceptions of mental health. Not statistics or nameless faces, the volunteers in this project are everyday people—just like you.
Dorothy
Hardships are not obstacles, they are learning opportunities
Ashley
There is no shame in asking for help
Bob
I am not going to not recover
Wariimi
I turned my pain into purpose
Dylan
Healing comes when you’re 100% self-reflective and make the commitment to better yourself
Sawyer
Your brain is an organ just like any other; you have to take care of it
Blair
I’m a dignified person with a personality disorder
Kelly
Find the silver lining
Finn
Resiliency, to me, is doing the hard things
Sandy
I am a whole and dynamic person
Sara
I’m more than a survivor. I’m a thriver
Anne
I can change the way I think and that is empowering because I can improve my life
Lilian
I’m so glad I hung in there and stuck around
Veronique
You inspire people just by being yourself
Jade
I boldly talk about my mental health
Jeremy
Sharing my vulnerability has become my superpower
Julie
Even through challenges and defeating moments, there is still hope
Daria
You deserve to feel better
Carrie
We have to rely on each other
Nicole
BPD is not a life sentence—recovery is possible
Paul
Speak your truth and embrace this life
Kelli
Healing is possible. Thriving is possible. Joy is possible
Rebecca
I knew I was struggling when I became afraid of my own thoughts
Ray
Male suicide is a big issue and it gets worse when we don’t speak about it
Jay
I have these experiences and am not afraid to talk about them
Mary
My faith gives me strength and courage every day
Jenna
Treatment has allowed me to live genuinely
Caitlin
Acceptance is part of being able to manage a chronic mental health condition and embracing that identity
Mailiana
Share with the people you love. Let them know that they are not alone.
Marena
No matter how long it takes, you can get better
Livia
Your illness does not define you
Natalia
With OCD, you are not your dark thoughts. You are okay
Irene
Give yourself the chance to open up in a way that changes your life
Sylvia
I went through this process alone because of the stigma
Debbie
Denial will ruin me quicker than the condition itself
Chris
I’m no longer afraid of waking up each day
Cali
I keep moving
Allie
Taking care of yourself is taking care of others
Lee
No matter how much you try to run from PTSD, it catches up to you eventually.
Elissa
The worst part is the fear. The fear of what the voices would say.
Al
You’re told to be strong. For first responders, those words can be fatal
Kennedy
It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Luckily, there are people to give you water along the way
Chris
There are no perfect people
Joanne
It was as if they opened my brain, took out a black cloud, and I could start to function
Molly
Judgment, bias, and stigma can come from people who know you best
Lena
Until I struggled, I never knew the full spectrum of what it means to be human
Meredith
She told me no one could know that I was “crazy”
Doug
He knew he needed help. He wanted help. He just couldn’t find the right treatment
Jimmy
Those first to confront these issues will open the way for those to come.
Courtney
Your mental illness is just one part of you
Irene
Do not let a diagnosis stop you from doing what you want in life
Kellie
Ignore everything and everyone that says there is no hope
Travis
I was an only child and to be honest, I didn’t know how to help my mom
Roi
I help other people, which gives me greater self-worth
Gloria
Tell your story with someone next to you, holding your hand, because we can’t do it alone
Vicky
I found so much joy after so many years of heartbreak and loneliness. You can, too.
David
We all have more in common than we realize
Yvonne
You have to do a lot of work, but healing is possible
Justin
It’s part of being human
Christopher
Being vulnerable isn’t a sign of weakness
Marquez
I wanted to be the best I could be for myself and others
Howie
You’re no different than me
Kevin
I try to teach that true strength is vulnerability
Caroline
The best advice I got: surround yourself with people who make you feel seen, heard, and cared for
Lisha
I am living the life that I never thought was possible
Dimple
Mental health issues within the South Asian community are too important to keep quiet
Brian
No one knew the pain I was experiencing
Valeria
It’s important not to be afraid of what people will say.
Ky
I live for the present moment, accept humility and embrace my part in my story
Kevin
Waking up used to be a chore. Now, it’s a gift
Kyle
Sharing your mental health story can help you build a community and achieve recovery
Madison
Our illness is complicated and messy
Norma
Recovery isn’t easy, but it’s doable
Michele
Through this journey, I’ve learned just how strong I am
Chezia
I am enough
Michelle
Surmounting mental illness
David
Never give up. Keep trying. You can have a full life
Pata
A life journey
Pablo
I want to keep learning about the human mind
Duncan
There was a gradual realization that I should be proud of going through this
Christy
Ask for help, you cannot do this alone
Neriya
Everyone deserves a blank page, a fresh start
Sandy
Speaking up felt good: I was releasing what I had felt since I was a child
Samina
Not believing mental illness exists, is stigmatizing and dangerous
Katie
Recovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum
Brittany
It’s okay to not be okay
Elsie
It’s never too late to begin again
Edmund
I hope that by speaking up, it helps other first responders
Rodney
There can be an immense amount of healing through storytelling
Chris
You are in charge of the rest of your life
Lisa
My illness is part of me, but it isn’t all of me
Sarah
Staying well is a lifelong process
Sima
I survive mental illness every day. In fact, I embrace healing and thrive
Mrinal
No one’s health mental health struggles should be dismissed
Jimena
I feel proud that I overcame the trauma
Natasha
I am the screenwriter of my story
Andrés
This is not something that defines me, it’s just a part of my life
Charles
You can’t let mental illness bring you down
Ann
My son is a big part of why I’m here and why I do this work
Cali
Overly anxious thoughts hold us back from our full potential
Noam
Even when things are good, it is still a struggle
Brandon
I wear green to raise awareness about mental health. I wear green so others know I am like them and they are like me.
Renee
I wore the coat of stigma through my life
Kaylee
I learned to listen to my body rather than ignoring it
Marina
I sat in silence for so long. And that’s the last thing I want anyone else to do
Alejandra
It really seemed like a tunnel with no way out, but there is a way out
Jasmin
No matter the obstacles, you can survive
Stephanie
Treatment helped me not to feel so alone, and it gave me hope
Sylvia
The power of ‘testimony’
Adrian
My brain was doing what it needed to do for me to survive
Joaquín
The challenge of mental illness is something you have control over
Dina
I’m finally achieving what I always said I was going to achieve
Andrea
No one noticed because a mental health problem is not something you see
Francisca
I practice what I preach
Roba
There are so many solutions, just listen to us
Evan
I was scared to say how I was really doing
Rotem
I am who I am
Joanne
We need to focus on hope
Joe
Together we are one drum beating against the stigma of addiction
Leah Roni
I am not ashamed!
Nieisha
Don’t suffer in silence alone
Yaqeen
If you feel like you’re drowning, know that you’re not alone
Cynthia
I let go of the stigma
David
It is impossible to imagine the heights a person with a mental illness can reach
Katie
Speaking out about mental health can be scary, but it is also powerful
Marilyn
Decide to live your best life possible
Theresa
I was in fear of what other people would think
Shlomit-Coana
I owe my illness a lot, it shaped who I am
Jenni
If I can help one person, then I can fall asleep at night
Eitan
You have to believe in change
Mike
There is no age limit for getting help
Dominique
We have to stop making it seem like it’s not okay to not be okay
Bianca
I had a turning point in my journey
Shelly
I want to be seen as a human being, not a diagnosis
Dani
It’s possible for life to get better
Leo
Sobriety is possible. So is happiness
Yakov
Everyone deserves understanding, compassion, and assistance
Beth
Find the love and support of others to move forward
Shimon
I am complex, I am complete
Yoel
We want our voices to be heard
Jenny
Life is worth fighting for
Lavih
I want to be understood
Randall
It’s natural to have strong responses to trauma
Mike
Keep at it. Don’t give up
Leor
It’s important to turn and ask for help
Steve
The path to the right treatment
Suzanne
People need to hear uncomfortable stories
Carly
I had to challenge myself and face my fears
Itay
Look differently at your mental health challenges
Judith
Because of my challenges, I am much stronger
Phyllis
Let’s end the silence around mental illness
Omri
Forgiveness restored my belief in my humanity
Ramya
I will do everything I can to fight stigma for the people who come after me
Lindsay
Education, empathy, and understanding are essential
Ori
Some say I like to live through people by helping them
Shay
My goal is to revolutionize how society perceives mental health
Vanessa
Representation matters
Laura
It’s all about perseverance, fighting for yourself, and realizing when to switch gears
Jen
It starts with learning to love yourself
April
Having mental health challenges is not the defining feature of who I am
Shirley
I just needed to hang on
Tian
People should be seen as people and not as a set of symptoms
David
When something becomes a cause, stigma cannot attach itself to it
Adati
With community, comes confidence
Thomas
Getting help was the difference between life and death
Gayle
Bringing mental illness into the light
Leslie
Remind yourself of how strong you really are
Cameron
If you reach out your hand, someone will be there to guide you—and the help you receive may come in unexpected, amazing ways
Francesca
I see this illness as part—not all—of who I am
Brenda
There is nothing to fear
Thomas
We should not have to carry the horrible burden of stigma
Jon
Empathy and understanding
Debby
Put your own oxygen mask on first, then assist others
Jocelyn
Changing the world starts with self-expression and telling our stories
Theresa
Mental health should not be a subject dealt with behind closed doors
Melissa
Find a wonderful team and rely on your “village”
Paul
Inside you know something’s wrong, and eventually it eats away at you
Richard
No matter what age, color, or religion, anyone can live with mental illness
Lauren
You can re-train your brain
Christophe
Embrace the concept, that with effort, you can improve
Nique
Look at yourself in the mirror and find the strength to change
Beth
Because of you, I didn’t give up
Jen
All emotions are valid
Mitzi
Being an open book about mental health can help you move forward with your life
Barbara
The importance of spiritual support in recovery—something I know well
Melinda
I know stigma in the restaurant community is strong, but I trust that recovery is stronger
Winter
This is something that was happening to me, not something that was me
Bruce
My furry antidepressant only came with one side effect: a lifetime of slobbery, unconditional love
Amanda
The strength I carry is much deeper than myself
Kitty
Each one of us is different in terms of the way our bodies respond to ECT. My experience has been very positive.
Dayna
I am changing the world in my own way
Lexi
It felt like I had a big hole in my chest
Subrina
By sharing our stories we are working towards eradicating the stigma
Tracey
Escaping the rabbit hole
Kevin
If you can’t see the light, brother, I will sit with you in the dark
Kasie
Tell your story, unashamed, and free yourself from your prison
Mandy
Finding joy
Cynthia
You need to be who you are destined to be
Olga
I’m really grateful that I made the decision to address the issue—and to keep going
Kevin
To first responders: help is available—and necessary
Alan
We all fear the first step
Jane
It will get better
Laura
Sometimes it takes us a while to get to our best version of ourselves, our best life. You can’t stop looking for it.
Diana
It’s important to recognize your own true power as an individual
Vaidehi
When I started writing, a lot of the bitterness I had about the past started to turn into acceptance
Linda
Mental illness was a part of her. It was not all of her.
Keith
I’ll never be cured, but I’m so happy to be alive
Robb
Since seeking treatment, my life has blossomed
Leslie
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of
Elizabeth
I began to grasp the importance of being an advocate for my own mental health needs
Jodi
Finding her voice
Persephone
I often fall through the cracks
Ivy
Therapy truly saved my life
David
With better insight into mental illness, there is no limit to success
Jen
Seeking help saved my life
Shirley
Radical acceptance has had a profound effect in helping me to achieve emotional health
Ream
It gets better
Fee
Keep asking for help
Laura
I want to touch the people who slip through the cracks, because I always did.
Luanne
My throat hurt. I was holding back tears and words.
Leonard
No secrets, no shadows, no shame
Clare
You’ve got to find the good in life. I’m still working on that
Sean
I lost 20 years of my life to a lot of pain because I was scared to talk
Kim
Seeking treatment is a sign of strength
Mindy
Becoming whole
Ashley
He didn’t know how good he was
Colleen
Mental illness can affect anyone
Wayne
When I said, ‘I can’t live like this,’ things started to get better
Katherine
By spreading awareness and understanding, perhaps we can diagnose more people and save lives
John
Because of the stigma, no one wants to see mental illness
Ben
You have to be persistent
Sandy
I never lost hope
Stephen
Rescue the rescuer
Maria
Mental illness may be a lifelong illness, but it is a treatable and livable illness if you ask for help
Kim
There is nothing wrong with what happened to me
Jeff
Animals have a positive and lasting impact for people with mental health challenges
Tony
If I can help someone who’s going through what I went through, I want to help
Kim
Sharing how you feel and not being judged by someone is a pretty great feeling
Mary
We save each other
Julia
I was not living: I was surviving
Jessika
Depression doesn’t care who you want to be. It can resurface when you least expect it
Joel
Doing things that make you happy is one of the best ways to care for yourself
Lise
There is no shame in needing help
Jackie
Mental illness is not our fault, but it is our responsibility
Kelsey
You aren’t alone
Ana
I’ve learned to like myself again
Angi
I want to change how we talk about mental illness
Robert
I’m a survivor
Abby
We save each other
Rick
I want people to know they are not alone
Charlene
There’s no shame in having a mental illness
Maria
The fear of being judged is paralyzing
Joyce
I didn’t think there was anything wrong. But one day, I knew I had to talk to someone
John
I believe in the human potential to grow and change
Carol
Proper treatment requires a proper diagnosis
Nancy
There’s just so much abuse one living creature can take before their spirit breaks
Jessica
The tics started in fourth grade
Michael
Not one human being should have to endure the pain that comes with mental illness
Paul
Anyone should be able to say, “I need help”
Nathaniel
If you can face the worst fears your mind can create, you can overcome just about anything.
Maurice
Having bipolar or another mental illness doesn’t mean you can’t be successful
Amy
We’re always looking out for each other
Rachel
I want to help educate people
Ron
We need to keep an eye on each other
Larry
Waltz with life
Ann
They put me in paper clothes. It was dehumanizing.
Lisa
I’m not ashamed of who I am anymore
Joe
My insides were numb
Meg
I remind myself to live in the moment
Amy
Once I started treatment, I could smile at my little boy
Marlena
Sometimes, there are just no words to express what you’re feeling
Jamie
I’ve always been capable of feeling great joy. With that, though, can come great despair.
Luanna
I admire the courage of my patients who want to work on themselves
Shellye
I know how it is to need help and be terrified to ask
Miriam
Some people reacted negatively. It was sad. But that’s exactly why I needed to speak up
Christina
Music speaks for me when I don’t know what to say
Lisa
I am playing music again
Sonya
I’m going to defeat you, depression. You can’t hold me down.
Darryl
I’m not crazy for feeling this way
Jennifer
I could feel people looking at me—even if they weren’t
Molly
I didn’t think I would make it to age 20
Ashley
With treatment, I felt different. I wondered, “Is this how people feel normally?”
Meredith
You never know, underneath, what people are going through
Jessica
You can always extract the good from your mental illness