Dear Reader,
In the age of social media we have a chance to choose what narratives get to be told, and I want to shed light on issues that will benefit from the exposure. It’s gonna be a long post but it’s something close to my heart, so bear with me.
All too often self harm and other issues related to mental health are associated with feelings of embarrassment or shame. If you have self-harmed before, I would like to grab coffee with you, sit with you, and have a chat. At the end, *if you’re comfortable*, I will take your photo in the coffee shop, or in a setting that brings you comfort at a later date. If you wish to remain anonymous at the end of our meeting, that’s fine too!
I want to undertake this creative project to allow people going through similar struggles to realise that they are not alone in this - that there are others like you - that it’s okay to reach out to a friend or family member for help - that it’s okay to have these conversations. I will be posting about the content of our conversation, excluding parts you choose to have omitted. The write up will be sent to you for vetting.
Awareness about mental health is important. Self harm can come in many forms, it can be physical or emotional, it could end up hurting those around you. Reaching out to a professional - Setting up a therapy session - It all starts with having a conversation.
In the next post I’ll be sharing a bit about my own experiences.