To those who have been here from the first issue, thank you for your support. And to those who are here for the first time, thank you for deciding to help break the stigma. We are all on the same team.
The second issue for Brain Storm has been so much fun to put together (and a bit emotional too). I was overwhelmed by the amazing response on the first one and by how many people wanted to be involved in this one. As always, the writers, photographers and artists have been working very hard over the last month and a bit to share their stories and join the team.
After the great response on the last issue, I have been working hard to expand our efforts to share more stories on many platforms. It is still a work in progress, but I am so appreciative of the support and encouragement from everyone. Keep an eye out for new initiatives and opportunities to share your story in between issues (probably in the new year). If you would like to read about my experience with mental illness, go to brainstormmag.com and look for the post 'Leaving University'. I know that the fight against the stigma is ongoing and difficult for many people, and I know that there is still so much work to do. It's not enough for me to be the only voice here and I hope you will join me in normalizing conversations about mental health.
Again, please be aware that some of these stories may be difficult to read and could be triggering to some people. If you are finding something too difficult to read, I urge you to stop and do what's best for you in taking care of yourself. In this issue we have provided some international resources on the back cover so you can reach out for help. If a crisis line is not something you need I suggest you look at the website below the helplines as it offers an extensive list of all the options in your country.
Take care of yourself.
website: brainstormmag.com instagram: @thebrainstormmag // @hana.epw