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A new way of thinking
Want to know the facts about mental illness? Then visit a website launched by young people in Hull…
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Megan Mennell (front), Alex Porter (back)
and other contributors to the website |
If you ever thought mental illness was not an issue for young people, think again.
That’s because the illness often starts between the ages of 15 and 30, as young people go through changes in their lives, such as leaving home, going to college or university, and starting work.
Megan Mennell (20) and Alex Porter (26) are two young people from Hull who have been touched by mental illness.
But now they are putting their experiences to good use by contributing to a website called www.gonecrazy.org.uk, which aims to challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness.
It also aims to support other young people with similar problems, and provide information for their families and carers.
Megan suffered a breakdown about a year ago, while on a student hockey tournament in Spain.
She says too much socialising and late nights, the effects of heat and sun stroke, and lack of sleep led her to develop an illness called psychosis, in which she began to hallucinate, hear voices, and feel scared, confused and paranoid.
Recovery
“I still have some dark days but I’m recovering well and things are looking up,” says Megan, who has written a poem and a full account of her story on the website.
Alex says that for many years he knew things were not right and reached a stage where he felt his mind was broken.
After asking for help he was also diagnosed with psychosis and now gets involved with the website to help people understand what it’s like to experience a mental illness.
“Everyone feels low from time to time but if you’ve had a mental illness some people just don’t want to know you,” he says.
“The illness is nothing to be ashamed of and there’s no need for sufferers to cower away from the world.
I use humour as a way of coping and take it as lightly as I can.”
Get involved
The website also features young people’s music, photography, video, artwork, news, and real life stories.
Other young people in Hull, who’ve had mental health problems of their own, can get involved by sending in content which can then be put online to give them a voice.
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