Breaking the silence

Is mental illness funny?

A THOUGHT-provoking video - do you think it makes a valid point?

Someone once told me: 'You'll be on these indefinitely'

I SPOKE up about depression for the Someone Once Told Me website around two years ago now.

My audio interview can be found in an earlier post.

Now I've found this video from a young woman who's talking frankly about accepting she has clinical depression and that this is a major illness needing treatment.

Thanks to her for sharing her story and thanks to Mario for helping tell it.

Jessie Close -- and her sister Glenn -- speaking up about bipolar disorder

I FOUND this video at Coming out of the dark, a blog highlighted by Frances at Brighter Futures Counselling.

The hidden costs of bulimia

By Lyn Jenkins

OFTEN, those who haven't had bulimia, or cared for someone who has, (and frankly some who have) think that this disease is all about appearance.

Journey through depression - Rita's story

Here Rita speaks about her experiences of severe depression as an older woman, her treatment through medication and ECT, her route to recovery and what she can now achieve.

Journey through depression

'How my friends and family react to mental illness' in video

HAVING written about how I felt mental illness has affected my friendships over the years, I was very interested in this lady's story.

It brings a lump to my throat and is well worth a look.

Understanding schizophrenia: YouTube video explains symptoms

WHEN I started this blog, I never realised where it could take me. One aspect I didn't anticipate was how much I would learn and how my own preconceptions would be challenged.

Thanks to our contributors I now have a greater understanding of various conditions. Most of all, I feel I have learned about schizophrenia and moved on from wrong assumptions previously forged by a media intent on sensationalising its effects.

With this is mind, I wanted to find a video on YouTube to share here which explains clearly and compassionately what schizophrenia is and what it means for its sufferers.

The above video has been helpful in this respect. I hope it may answer questions from readers too.

'Don't shun us, we are just like everyone else' Comic Relief mental health video

MORE than a year on, this video still packs a punch.

Schizophrenia 'horror film' from Time to Change

YOU can read a BBC report about this video and the thinking behind it here.

Fixing a last taboo: Telling young people about psychosis

Mental Health: The Last Taboo from ITV Fixers on Vimeo.

ITV Yorkshire viewers saw Megan Mennell drawing on her experience of psychosis to raise awareness on how to spot early signs and understanding mental illness.