EVERY SUFFERER HAS A "NO ONE TOLD ME" STORY
What is Made of Millions and why is it important?
“Made of Millions is a grassroots mental health advocacy platform on a mission to change how the world perceives mental health. We’re built by sufferers for sufferers which is a perspective that’s incredibly important in a space that tends to lack humanity and has a history of being very clinical. ”
Could you please tell a bit more about your mental health awareness month campaign “No One Told Me"?
“This campaign was born out of a collective frustration. Every sufferer has a No One Told Me story, something they wish they knew at the onset of their symptoms that would’ve made all the difference as they’ve grown up and learned to manage their conditions.
The sad reality is, that a majority of psychiatric conditions begin around the age of 14, yet the time between first experiencing symptoms and seeking treatment can be on average 10 years. And no one is talking about this.
We wanted to show this gap visually. The ask was simple. Find a photo of when you first began noticing symptoms, and snap a quick self portrait holding up the photo. As submissions started pouring in, you can quickly see the painful truth of this issue. That for so many, their symptoms begin early in life, yet we don’t have the proper programs in place to help meet people at the moment that could help avoid at least a decade of suffering.”
What is a treatment gap? And what can we do to improve it?
“The treatment gap is the time between when a sufferer first begins experiencing symptoms to when they reach out to seek treatment. In that time, people are suffering in silence, driven to not disclose due to cultural stigmas or other factors.
It’s critical to shift some of the focus from treatment to early detection. By putting mental health education materials into schools, we’d be able to help that child who is experiencing symptoms for the first time right at the start. By helping them understand that what they are going through is normal and providing education and tools for coping, would help set them up for leading much healthier lives. ”