As a researcher and advocate against stigma, I’m inspired by people who share personal stories and those who ask companies like Bell to do better for people with mental illness.

My doctoral research examined why and how young people with mental illness choose to share their mental health stories in order to educate about mental health and reduce stigma. A mental health story can be a snapshot of a day from the perspective of someone who has a mental illness. A mental health story can be a snapshot of a time when a person struggled with mental health.

You might be a part of a business, organization, or community that is thinking about creating a space where people can share their stories. If done right, this can be a great way to build community and promote mental health awareness. Here are some questions to ask and answers before you start.

Reduce stigma

It’s not only by sharing a mental illness story that you can reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

Spend time discussing and deciding why sharing mental health experiences is the best approach for your organization. Consult people with expertise in mental education through story-sharing and personal experience, and who are advocates for employee rights, including the right to privacy.

Ask for feedback on the best way to ask storytellers to contribute without making them feel obligated.

Discuss any possible impacts on the storyteller and explain how the organization intends to avoid discrimination against those who are willing to share their story.

How long will you share the story? (Shutterstock)

What will you do to honor the storytellers?

You and the storyteller enter into a partnership that is governed by mutual respect and reciprocity when you freely agree to tell their story. It would help if you had a candid conversation with the person who is sharing their story about how you can benefit from it.

How will you share the benefits of including the story of this person with them?

Set aside some time to discuss and agree upon mutual expectations, parameters, and how your organization or community will communicate the story. Where will you share the story, and for how much time? Determine where and with whom you will share it on social media. What will you do if the storyteller changes their mind later and wants to remove their story?

Moments, days, and even weeks following a person’s story being shared with a group can be like riding a rollercoaster. These mixed emotions were explained to me by the youth who took part in my research.

It can be liberating to the storyteller when they finally get to tell their story the way that they wanted. It can be both a relief and a burden to revisit difficult moments, to deal with questions or feedback that is ignorant, as well as to absorb the stories of others.

Supports requiredAsk the person who is willing to share their mental health story with you what support they might need.

You may have shared a mental health story with someone who is listening or reading. They might also need mental support. If you’re preparing a list of resources for mental health to accompany your story, take the time to learn what happens to the person who calls the number or contacts the service.

Is the resource a service that provides information or direct counseling? Does the service have a price? What are the available languages and culturally appropriate approaches? What is the next step if the person requires more help than what can be provided at this resource?

Have support available after asking someone to share. (Shutterstock)

Why this storyteller and their story?

You, or the organization that you represent, may have different goals from the person who permitted you to tell their story. Spend time to understand what I call the “why.”

Everyone has different reasons for sharing their mental health stories. It can change the reasons why a storyteller shares their story. Many people who have lived through a difficult time had their stories told in a manner or at a moment they did not expect or plan. In my case, I had to share my story of mental health for the first time in order to get the help I needed.

Working with the storyteller, you can better understand why they shared their story and how they would like it used.

How will you honor the story?

Mentally ill people want to be truthful about what they have experienced. Truth includes suffering, discrimination, and moments of resilience. How can you tell their story without increasing stigma against the person or mental illness?

How does the story shared align with the brand of your organization and the experiences of the people who are part of it? How would you support the mental health of a person who shared their story about mental illness? What obstacles might they face?