Human beings are social creatures, and as such, we are in constant relationship with others: with those similar to us, those different from us, and those we do not yet know. Through these relationships, we construct our sense of self; we understand, articulate, shape, and love ourselves (or not). Others are important for our development, identity, personality, and self-esteem. They do not determine us, but they do influence us, and based on what we reformulate and create in our minds about these relationships, we configure ourselves (not because someone says something negative to me will I automatically have low self-esteem; it depends on our own interpretation, meaning, and thousands of other factors which I will not delve into here, as this post would otherwise become endless).
When we encounter people with whom we share something in common, we form a community. We understand each other; we function—in some way—in harmony. We have our differences, our disagreements, but there is something that moves us forward together. There is something that unites us and transcends space (we are not only a community because we share a neighborhood, for example, even though space can be an important factor in some cases). The sense of community permeates our identity, because our identity is shaped not only individually, but also collectively.
Why does De-mentes advocate for a campaign like #ShareYourStory?
We start from the idea of how important it is to feel accompanied, especially when people share a common ailment or a similar situation that in some way makes us vulnerable. There is no worse feeling than feeling alone in a struggle against something as powerful as the stigma surrounding mental health. Mental health conditions and mental health issues in general are not spoken about, and those who have a mental health condition are also marginalized and excluded from society. They are stripped of agency, autonomy, value, and respect, as society speaks from a place of ignorance.
At De-mentes, we therefore decided to create a space for sharing, where those who feel alone can feel accompanied by all those people who, whether anonymously or by name, decided to come forward and share their stories with us. Through this, we are already forming a community. Recognizing oneself in others also helps to rethink our own experiences, and that has unique value.
We have created a space where those outside can also learn and feel, from the very protagonists of the stories themselves, what it is like to have a mental health condition in our country and what it is like to have a family member, friend, classmate, etc., with a mental health condition. We believe that it is important for society to recognize the daily struggles that people go through in order to make themselves visible, receive care, and be understood from the perspective of their mental health, in an environment where little importance is given to it. It is also about seeing not only the suffering, but also the strength of each person who shares their story.
We encourage you to participate—write, share from your own experience in relation to mental health. Join this community.
#ShareYourStory here.
