Stories

Stories about people like you. Mental health stories from people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Your stories help more people to understand the importance of looking after their mental health and give them a reason to talk more openly about their struggles and the road to recovery.

Anxiety

Stephs Mental Health Awareness Week Skydive
Story
Steph's story: overcoming my fear and anxiety with a skydive for Mental Health Awareness Week
Steph's story: overcoming my fear and anxiety with a skydive for Mental Health Awareness Week
Photo of Bella
Story
Bella's story: there is incredible value in making connections with new people
Bella's story: there is incredible value in making connections with new people
Aisha Sheikh-Anene headshot
Story
Aisha's story: a letter to my younger self
Aisha's story: a letter to my younger self

Body image

Photo of James
Story
James' story: my experience with anorexia and eating disorders
James' story: my experience with anorexia and eating disorders
Photo of Tyra
Story
Tyra's story: facing my mirror
Tyra's story: facing my mirror
Photo of Jenny and her three sons
Story
Jenny's story: my body is a trophy of the maternal journey
Jenny's story: my body is a trophy of the maternal journey
Photo of Luke Tyberski, a supporter who wrote a story about mental health
Story
Luke's story: binge eating, depression and how my obsession with fitness wasn't necessarily a good thing
Luke's story: binge eating, depression and how my obsession with fitness wasn't necessarily a good thing
Photo of Paul
Story
Paul's story: my feelings about my body image are a 'work in progress'
Paul's story: my feelings about my body image are a 'work in progress'
Photo of Lucy with a horse
Story
Lucy's story: how I feel about my body as a teenager
Lucy's story: how I feel about my body as a teenager
Photo of Michael
Story
Michael's story: when my body changed, I didn't know how to feel
Michael's story: when my body changed, I didn't know how to feel

Depression

Photo of Gabi
Story
Gabi's story: my struggle with speaking up about my depression and loneliness
Gabi's story: my struggle with speaking up about my depression and loneliness
Photo of Iona
Story
Iona's story: the challenges of being autistic and feelings of loneliness
Iona's story: the challenges of being autistic and feelings of loneliness
Grant's story: Events virtual marathon
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Grant's story: running a marathon helped me discover that exercise is the best anti-depressant
Grant's story: running a marathon helped me discover that exercise is the best anti-depressant

Families, children and young people

Photo of Talia
Story
Talia's story: my experiences of loneliness and anxiety as a young mum
Talia's story: my experiences of loneliness and anxiety as a young mum
Photo of Anisah
Story
Anisah's story: my different birth experiences
Anisah's story: my different birth experiences
Photo of Jessica
Story
Jessica's story: my experiences as a pregnant Black woman in the UK
Jessica's story: my experiences as a pregnant Black woman in the UK
Jayde with her youngest son
Story
Young mums standing up to stigma
Young mums standing up to stigma
Photo of Rachel
Story
Rachel's story: the loneliness of living as a single mum
Rachel's story: the loneliness of living as a single mum
Photo of Philip
Story
Philip's story: finding balance in life and in my friendships
Philip's story: finding balance in life and in my friendships
Photo of Holly
Story
Holly's story: drinking culture at university
Holly's story: drinking culture at university
A photo of Osama, the writer of this blog, stood outside in nature with lakes in the background
Story
Islamophobia and my mental health: Osama's story
Islamophobia and my mental health: Osama's story

Kindness

Photo of Cassandra
Story
Cassandra's story: the importance of kindness
Cassandra's story: the importance of kindness
Photo of Bethan
Story
Bethan's story: kindness and the difference it makes to my mental health
Bethan's story: kindness and the difference it makes to my mental health
Photo of Ntale
Story
Ntale's story: why kindness got me to where I am today
Ntale's story: why kindness got me to where I am today

Loneliness, friendships and relationships

Georgia Toman
Story
Georgia's story: living alone for the first time
Georgia's story: living alone for the first time
Photo of Rhyana
Story
Rhyana's story: my feelings of loneliness worsened while I was studying, working and being a full-time mum
Rhyana's story: my feelings of loneliness worsened while I was studying, working and being a full-time mum
Photo of Dean
Story
Dean's story: my mental health took a hit during the pandemic as my feelings of loneliness grew
Dean's story: my mental health took a hit during the pandemic as my feelings of loneliness grew
Photo of Libby
Story
Libby's story: overcoming my feelings of loneliness and finding my strength
Libby's story: overcoming my feelings of loneliness and finding my strength
Photo of Ashleigh
Story
Ashleigh's story: coping with physical conditions and connecting with LGBTQIA+ groups
Ashleigh's story: coping with physical conditions and connecting with LGBTQIA+ groups
Photo of Carol
Story
Carol's story: there should be no shame in how we feel
Carol's story: there should be no shame in how we feel
A drawing of a park, drawn by Jolie
Story
Jolie's story: my experience of loss during COVID-19
Jolie's story: my experience of loss during COVID-19
Healthy Relationships - woman graphic
Story
Jude's story: how to protect your self-esteem when in new situations
Jude's story: how to protect your self-esteem when in new situations
Healthy relationships - boy graphic
Story
Fox's story: being disabled and the feeling of isolation, together with being queer and trans
Fox's story: being disabled and the feeling of isolation, together with being queer and trans
Mind Over Mirror - young person with acne
Story
H's story: how healthy relationships are important for my mental health
H's story: how healthy relationships are important for my mental health
Graphic of avatar woman sitting on laptop
Story
Izzy's story: lack of representation at university
Izzy's story: lack of representation at university

Long-term physical health conditions

COVID hub - loneliness graphic
Story
Shereen's story: my experience of long COVID
Shereen's story: my experience of long COVID
Photo of Mehnaz
Story
Mehnaz's story: how my MS diagnosis affects my feelings of loneliness
Mehnaz's story: how my MS diagnosis affects my feelings of loneliness
Jolies illustration
Story
Jolie's story: my experience of MS and being a survivor of the psychiatric system
Jolie's story: my experience of MS and being a survivor of the psychiatric system

Refugees and asylum-seekers

Photo of Larysa
Story
Larysa's story: my loneliness after arriving in the UK after the conflict in Eastern Ukraine
Larysa's story: my loneliness after arriving in the UK after the conflict in Eastern Ukraine
Photo of Rhoda
Story
Rhoda's story: my feelings of loneliness and the effects of culture change after arriving in the UK
Rhoda's story: my feelings of loneliness and the effects of culture change after arriving in the UK

Suicidal thoughts

Photo of Taylor in a Mental Health Foundation tshirt
Story
Taylor's story: raising awareness after my brother died by suicide
Taylor's story: raising awareness after my brother died by suicide
Photo of Ben sitting with his friends
Story
Ben's story: losing my mother to suicide and taking on new challenges to raise awareness
Ben's story: losing my mother to suicide and taking on new challenges to raise awareness

Connecting with nature

Ananya on her boat, 'Odysseus'
Story
Solo row across the Atlantic for mental health: Ananya’s story
Solo row across the Atlantic for mental health: Ananya’s story
Image of Caroline swimming
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Caroline's story: connecting with nature by wild swimming
Caroline's story: connecting with nature by wild swimming
Photo of Daniel talking
Story
Daniel's story: relaxing in nature in my local park
Daniel's story: relaxing in nature in my local park
Photo of Michael outside
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Michael's story: connecting with nature and friends
Michael's story: connecting with nature and friends
Photo of Ruth
Story
Ruth's story: my lifelong connection with nature
Ruth's story: my lifelong connection with nature
Photo of Kas
Story
Kas' story: turning to nature during the pandemic
Kas' story: turning to nature during the pandemic
Photo of Heather
Story
Heather's story: walking in nature is my therapy
Heather's story: walking in nature is my therapy
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