Zoe S.’s Story

Steph T.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to content about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

My name is Stephanie. I am a 28-year-old female and I live in Calgary, Canada. This is my story… 

Two years ago, I was approached by a man who claimed to be an Uber driver. I accepted the ride but unfortunately, this man was not an Uber driver; I was raped and assaulted. 

I am extremely grateful to be alive. 

Zeb C.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to content about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

As long as I can remember, I’ve been gay. There has never been a moment where I wasn’t gay. In fact, I rarely thought about my sexuality as different until I am reminded by someone else that I’m gay.

Smitha R.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to content about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to go into a field where I can directly help people. As I became older, I grew more passionate about mental health. I found it fascinating, yet under-looked. Vital, but stigmatized. I knew I wanted to help those who were affected by mental illnesses and encourage more awareness, but I never anticipated that I, myself, would become afflicted with depression. 

Sophie D.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content is directly or indirectly related to topics about depression, suicide, and self-harm.

I Am Me.

I thought a lot about what it would mean to create something with true deep personal meaning. that goes beyond just creating jewelry with a slogan that I hope people relate to. I wanted people to understand why I feel so strongly and so deeply towards this, I wanted to write out my story.

Emily D.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to topics about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

Chris F.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to topics about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

Mama’s Boy Makes It Home by Chris Ferguson

On my journey with bipolar disorder, pits seemingly without bottoms marked my descent into a cascade of unfettered despair. Though the rampant instability of the acute years blurs with the passage of time, my most profound, singular experience with severe depression remains vivid. 

Chloe S.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to topics about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

Depression is isolating.

When I was 17, I used to go on walks whenever I was sad. 

Starre C.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to topics about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

Zoe W.’s Story

Content Advisory: Please note the following content can be directly or indirectly related to topics about mental health, depression, suicide, and or self-harm.

Growing up, sports have always been my passion. It is what I loved to do. Looking back now, I realize that when I was young, my anxiety presented itself through those sports that I love. Little did I know that over the years that anxiety would extend further than sports and impact me in ways I had never thought it would.

Peer vs. Clinical Support

Peer support has become an increasingly popular source of help for individuals with mental illnesses. While the main type of peer support comes from people who have themselves suffered with mental illness, peer support can also be beneficial when coming from friends who may not have gone through similar struggles. 

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent disorders in the US and globally that is both under-diagnosed and under-treated. This burden is heaviest on under-treated minority populations (source). While minority populations are less likely to suffer from acute episodes of Major Depressive Disorder than Caucasians, they are more likely to suffer from prolonged, chronic, and severely debilitating depression with heavy consequences on their level of daily functioning.

An Introduction to Peer Support

Peer support has long been a valuable avenue in the mental health field. It has been found in inpatient facilities, day centers, and in service user groups. The core of peer support is finding that you are not alone in your experiences. This awareness that develops through peer support can lead to reassurance, hope, and confidence. Additionally, coming together in adverse circumstances, can lead to an increased sense of camaraderie and can ultimately be more supportive than the treatment they are currently receiving.