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A voice for issues of mental health
‘We all have moments of mental instability’ – new magazine set to tackle the highs and lows
A NEW magazine aims to do for depression and mental health problems what the Big Issue has done for homelessness.
One in Four, a national lifestyle publication, is rooted in Islington.
Writer Stephen Fry, who has suffered mental health problems, is already a supporter. The magazine is hoping for backing from Islington writers including Clare Allan of Poppy Shakespeare fame, and Highgate’s Lord Layard, whose socioeconomic book Happiness helped inspire the government to employ 3,500 new “talking” therapists.
One in Four – so named because one in four people suffers some sort of mental problem in in their lifetime – is a down-to-earth look at psychological disorders and the various new treatments.
Editor Mark Brown, 30, who suffers from a depressive illness which has led to bouts of unemployment, came up with the idea for the magazine.
He was studying English and history at Goldsmiths College when he became unable to work.
“I knew there was something wrong but I didn’t know how to get help,” he said.
Mark has a form of manic depression called Bipolar 2.
He added: “It’s similar to Stephen Fry’s condition, with the classic swing between mania and depression, although I have less of the mania.”
While trying to understand and come to terms with his condition, Mark found he also needed to untangle the benefits system which would allow him to support himself before finally getting back to work.
“I thought there was a gap in the information available,” he said. “There’s plenty of medical advice but little about people’s first-hand experiences.”
The magazine, based at Leroy House in Essex Road, is part-funded by advertising and charity and by a small group of people who have formed Social Spider, a local action communications agency.
“People with mental health difficulties are very often talked about but rarely given their own voice,” said Mark.
In his case treatment has been the talking variety rather than the chemical kind.
“In the first issue there’s a big article about the various treatments and the different forms of depression,” he said.
“It’s all a question of finding out what works for you. In my case it’s knowing my own limits. For example, I can’t drink for the immediate future because it can affect my mood and balance.
“I use meditation which I was taught by a therapist. It gives me a pause in the day for rest and reflection.”
Mark refuses to use the term “illness” in explaining his own condition.
“An illness implies something static and incapacitating,” he said.
“We want to give people inspiration and hope that it is possible to improve their condition. There are big changes in mental health and people need know what they are.”
The first edition of One in Four is free, and will have a print run of 20,000. It will be distributed to doctors’ surgeries, community centres and libraries throughout the UK.
Organisations will be encouraged to buy bulk subscriptions at low cost.
“But this is not a magazine just for people with problems,” added Mark. “Everyone has moments of mental instability or knows people who do. We hope it will appeal to all.”
One in Four,
Unit 3N, Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, N1. 020 7354 9129.
Email: oneinfour@socialspider.com
www.oneinfourmag.org |
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