Mental Health
This year I learnt... that reaching out about my mental health saved my life
What 2017 taught me — It might sound cliché to say we need to 'talk about' mental health. Certainly talking alone won't solve the crisis. But for Ben Smoke, 2017 was the year in which learning to reach out might well have helped a disaster be avoided.
Written by: Ben Smoke
No really, I’m fine: Celebrating queer life in London
Five years on — On Sunday night London's LGBTQ+ community came together to mark the five year anniversary of a failed suicide attempt, a reminder of the power of community.
Written by: Michael Segalov
It has been 5 years since my first suicide attempt – here's why I celebrate it
Fireworks in the sky — By defiantly commemorating the day he attempted to take his own life, Ben Smoke has a chance to embrace his life while also calling people to action. With LGBTQ young people almost five times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual counterparts there’s no time to waste.
Written by: Ben Smoke
The photographer documenting life with schizophrenia
Light and shade — In Big Brother, Louis Quail presents an intimate look at the daily struggles his older sibling – Justin – encounters while living with the condition.
Written by: Niall Flynn
From skateboarding prankster to extreme endurance athlete
Huck x HOKA ONE ONE — Dirty Sanchez made the Jackass crew seem like the Brady Bunch. But after so much partying, co-founder Matthew Pritchard cleaned up his life with a new passion. His story kicks off our new Huck x Hoka One One series, looking at mavericks who found a new perspective through running.
Written by: Sam Haddad
The woman who shares a body with 14 different artists
Kim Noble et al — South Londoner Kim Noble has multiple personalities, 14 of whom are artists with their own distinct styles. Next month, their work will hang alongside Salvador Dali, Francis Bacon and Andy Warhol in a powerful new show about mental health.
Written by: Alex Robert Ross
How Instagram stories became a lifeline for my mental health
Embracing every emotion — Constantly updating statuses and sharing pictures is having an impact on our generation, but I found comfort in creating Instagram stories while embracing the beauty of their transience.
Written by: Michael Segalov
Gary Numan: Life lessons from a synth-pop superstar
Human after all — In a searingly honest interview, Gary Numan shares the highs and lows of an extraordinary career.
Written by: Cian Traynor
Sylvia Plath’s visual art is celebrated in new exhibition
Uncovered treasures — The poet’s secret artistic talents are unearthed for a new show at Washington D.C’s Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Written by: Dominique Sisley
How to stay sane while making your own music
Tips from Hiatus — Electronic musician Cyrus Shahrad sees electronic music as an emotional outlet. Releasing his songs tracks the moniker Hiatus since 2010, he knows very well how draining the process of making something good can be – but now he wants to share his own tips on how to carry on moving forward, even when all seems lost.
Written by: Cyrus Shahrad (Introduction by Biju Belinky)
