Every year approximately 43 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with a mental illness meaning 1 in every 5 people you know are potentially struggling. Mental illness undeniably carries a stigma, which only results in the victim's battles to worsen. Personally, I struggle with anxiety and depression, so take it from me when I say this movement is way overdue--it's time to kill the stigma. I interviewed one College of Charleston student who is passionately working to bring attention to this issue because nobody should feel ashamed for struggling.
Philadelphia native, Emily Torchiana shares her story about personal issues with mental illness, in order to bring light to the notion that, “everyone is dealing with their own issues whether you know it or not.” Torchiana was never open about her mental state until she decided to speak about her cyberbullying experiences and suicide attempt at the College of Charleston. This was when she concluded that, “people want to talk about this stuff but they are afraid to share”, and began speaking at different schools, conferences, and events around the country. Torchiana’s story instantly made its mark. She began getting hundreds of emails per week from people that struggled silently, explaining that her story had helped them in some fashion. This is when Torchiana decided to make Shatter the Stigma. This video, filmed by Jesse Folk, depicts the feelings of loneliness and suicide, then rewinds to illustrate how this can be prevented if people are open about their illness.
Torchiana wouldn't stop there, her eagerness to help others pressed her to invent the Invisible Illness campaign. This campaign's purpose is to, “share the stories of those struggling with mental illnesses in order to reduce the negative stigma that surrounds mental health”. Although these illnesses may not be seen, that does not mean they aren’t there. Invisible Illness features a person’s photo along with their story; these photos show faces of people that hold these deep stories behind the surface level. This allows others to “get a glimpse into the lives of the fellow human beings they encounter every day, and have a few minutes to walk in their shoes”. Torchiana hopes that this will create a ripple effect and help others that are struggling to be brave enough to reach out for help/guidance because after all, “It is okay to not be okay”. She encourages students to remember that, “you are here for a reason, you were given this life because you are strong enough to live it”. Think about it, your track record for getting through the bad days is 100 percent, and you “can’t enjoy sunny days without having some rainy ones too”.
If you are struggling, please do not hesitate to ask for help. Asking for help does not show weakness, but rather a strength for acknowledging the problem and having the courage to get help. If you are interested in being a part of the Invisible Illness campaign please contact Emily Torchiana at torchianaef@g.cofc.edu. Please visit The Invisible Illness Project website to learn more and read individual's stories.
Resources:
Suicide Prevention Hotline:
1-800-273-8255
Depression and Bipolar Support:
800-273-8255
National Eating Disorder Hotline:
800-931-2237
National Mental Health Association Hotline:
800-273-8255
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
800-799-7233
