If there’s one thing I’ve learned about mental illness, it’s that it targets everybody. On the outside, most people seem so happy. But beneath the smiles and laughter is often something darker. In fact, I used to think that mental illness only found a home in those who were the type of people who don’t come to school, or don’t participate in anything or go out with friends. But I discovered that often, it’s the other way around. It’s the people who are acing Full IB, who’ve won international music and art competitions- the friends who seem to have it all. Those people too, more often than not, are victims of mental illness. I’ve learned that for many people who are sad to the point of depression, there is no reason. You can’t ask a person why he/she is depressed. Because often, there is no specific cause to point the finger at. And because there is no specific cause, there is no specific cure. Recovering from a mental illness requires immense strength and perseverance. To everyone out there. If you know someone who is struggling, or if you are struggling, remember that you are not alone, and you can get through this.
For today’s Video of the day, I was fortunate to come across an amazing short film. This film is about mental illness, and it left me with an intense afterthought (which also compelled me to show it to you all). The touching thing about this video is that it was actually created by a fellow Calgarian student. Jenny is a talented grade 12 student at Calgary’s SWC High School. She’s overcome mental illness, and her way of expressing herself comes in the form of this haunting yet beautiful video.
When asked if she would like to put a word in, this is what Jenny said:
“Darkness is a simple explanation of all of the emotions and thoughts I’ve gone through, and my inner struggles through mental illness. It’s the first time I’m telling my story, and I decided to do it in an artistic, abstract way. This video is filmed in one location (on a window sill) to emphasize the subtle movements and the little emotions that are out of sanity. I want to share how it feels when you’re going through depression, having a heart fractured.. and destroyed”.
Thank you for allowing us to share this video, Jenny. You can check out Jenny’s Youtube Channel and Other videos here.