Hey, it's ok

Mind and Glamour magazine have joined forces to bring depression in women out into the open.

The ‘Hey it’s OK’ campaign launched in the May issue of Glamour and aims to challenge the public stigma and self-stigma that young women experience around depression, opening up, and asking for help. 

The campaign kicked off with exclusive new research on women’s attitudes to feeling low, real life stories plus a video about depression and how seeking help can get you through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD05IwoA1CY.

One of the real life stories included the Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford, who spoke publicly for the first time about having depression.  Frankie spent a month in hospital last year after being convinced she was a ‘horrible person’ and ‘ugly’.

Frankie said:

If people spoke honestly to each other, they’d realise a lot of their friends have problems like mine. [In hospital] was the first time I felt I was among people who really understood me.

Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:

Frankie has been honest and open in speaking out about having depression, and has shown that mental health problems can affect anyone, no matter who they are. We’re glad to hear that she is feeling better now and hope that she can continue to have a successful recovery.

We’re delighted to be partnering with Glamour for the ‘Hey, It’s OK’ campaign and hope that this helps thousands of young women to realise that they are not alone in feeling depressed, and that they too can get the help and support they need to recover.

The Glamour team also took part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Mind in October.  Check out Team Glamour's running blog here to see how they got on.