What is 'The Project?'

The goal of this project is to give a voice to both the youth and adults of all ages struggling with mental illness. I believe that there are many misconceptions about those who struggle with mental illness, and would like to do my small part in changing public perception. This idea has come from years of watching too many friends struggle with mental illness, and know that they felt that they had to hide what they were dealing with because of how society might react. I would like to change this.

Five journals will be circulated, each with the same set of instructions. The goal is to collect anonymous journal entries where each person writes whatever is on his/her mind. There are no real rules—this is an opportunity to write down thoughts that you might not be able to say anywhere else. Names will not be connected to anything written. If you receive a journal, it is because someone trusts you to add to the journal, and because the person before you trusts you with the knowledge that they wrote the previous entry. Be as honest as you can with how you feel—this is a chance to express everything that has been bottled up in your head. When you pass on this journal to someone else you know with mental illness, make sure that they are also aware of the goals of this project. It is my hope to collect theses journals together in the hope of showing the world what an honest trip into the mind of young adults with mental illness is like. Don’t hold back.

I ask that the final contributor mail the full journal back to me. Also, if you don’t know who to give the journal too, sending it back to me is also an option. Remember: I will never disclose the identity of any participants. I hope that this project will be a true success, and thank everyone in advance for their help.

Please know that by joining this group, you are not claiming that you have written in any of the journals, but instead are interested in the project and it's goals. I ask that, if you are willing, spread this group, or even the idea as far as you can. Widespread knowledge of the project can help it to spread awareness.

Email me if you are interested: jpetre@brynmawr.edu. Emails are confidential.