You Are Not Alone

There is more talk of mental health today than ever before in human history. Still, it is much more common than most people might think. Overall, "one in six adults [...] in England met the criteria for a common mental disorder in 2014" (Mental Health and Wellbeing in England: The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey), including different types of depression and anxiety, as well as panic disorder, phobias, OCD and PTSD. The amount of people with common mental health problems went up by 20% between 1993 and 2014 in both men and women, yet there still exists a stigma aganst people suffering from mental illnesses calling them insane, attention-seeking or even accusing them of faking it.

The purpose of this photo essay is to document the toll depression takes and spark some much-needed discussions about mental health in general. The photographs are meant as tools to sincerely connect with others who might or might not be feeling the same way, and tell them that their feelings are valid and they are not alone. They are meant to challenge people of all classes to look closer and wake them up to another way of seeing mental health.