Intro

Awareness of mental health issues is becoming increasingly prevalent in today's society. Mental wellbeing is recognised in the workplace, within educational institutions, and social media has enabled individuals to share and learn about mental health. However, stigma surrounding mental illness persists and, for some, there is a detrimental lack of knowledge and understanding towards mental illness. For me, mental illness has been a part of my life since I was 13, and has affected relationships with family and friends over the last nine years of my life. Being such a prevalent part of my life over the last two years particularly, I am a passionate embassador for spreading awareness on mental illness and the value in taking care of your mental wellbeing. From a very early brief on this visual anthropology project in the summer term of 2019, I immediately knew I wanted to focus on mental health. Fortunately, the majority of people I have spoken to about my own mental health have been overwhelmingly positive and supportive, but there are a few instances where I was met with fear, ignorance, and distrust. "You should get some help", "you ruin everything with your mood", "grow up", "you never come out anymore" ... to name a few. Even the "oh... umm.. uh I'm sorry" alongside an awkward side-glance can leave you wishing you never said anything which, obviously, is the worst thing that can happen. Through this project in visual anthropology I want to illustrate the invisible illness of anxiety, low mood, depression, and panic attacks through the narration of those who live with it.