Beyond Silence: Stopping Stigma One Story at a Time

MAR. 10, 2017

By Luna Greenstein


Sharing your story isn’t easy. But it is powerful. It has the power to change perceptions, encourage understanding and provide hope to others. And the brave people who open up about their mental health journeys—risking stigma and discrimination—deserve to be recognized.

Created in partnership with NAMI, the new documentary Beyond Silence highlights three courageous individuals determined to break through the silence of mental illness stigma and help others who are struggling. Directed by Shaul Schwarz and produced by Demi Lovato, this powerful documentary showcases the lives of Jess, Lauren and Lloyd, who live with anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia (respectively). The film manages to go into the details of their mental health journeys while maintaining that their conditions do not define them. The film’s subjects are depicted as they are: real people with careers, families and goals, who also happen to live with mental illness.

After I watched the documentary, I felt deeply moved. Not only were Jess, Lauren and Lloyd able to recover from their mental health conditions, but they were so willing to tell others about their experiences. I decided to reach out to Lloyd to hear straight from the source what it was like to be so open and vulnerable on such a large stage.

“When Did You First Share Your Story?”

Lloyd explained to me that he shared his story over time. He didn’t wake up one day and suddenly tell every person he met every detail. It all began when he was a young adult, living in a mental hospital. While Lloyd was standing in line for the shower, a nurse told him she was pleasantly surprised by his good behavior and positive attitude, despite all the warnings she had received from her colleagues that he was “dangerous.”

She asked him what happened, why he was there. He responded that he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. Her response is what stuck with Lloyd for years to come. She simply said, “You must have a lot of healing to do.”

After that exchange, Lloyd spent a lot of time wondering, “Why am I not ready to talk about this?” He realized that she was right—he had a long road of healing ahead of him. Because before Lloyd got help in that mental hospital, before he knew he had schizophrenia, before he even knew that having voices in your head didn’t happen to everyone—Lloyd experienced something that he is still healing from today, over ten years later:

Lloyd’s mother came to him for help—her boyfriend wanted to end his life and she needed Lloyd to do it. Without hesitation, Lloyd went to her boyfriend’s apartment and provided this service. In the moment, he felt accomplished. He felt as if he was “providing something for your family that no one else can provide.” It was only after did he realize that it was actually his mental illness that told him to carry out this deed, not his mom.

“How Did You Feel When You Started Sharing Your Story?”

Lloyd slowly began sharing his story in small pieces, adding detail as he became more comfortable. “It felt great,” he told me. Sharing his story gave him the opportunity to connect with other people who also live with mental illness and experience hardships because of it.

With all the stigma surrounding mental illness, Lloyd’s story—like many others—is a difficult one to share. It is deeply personal and emotional, and not every person can fully understand what happened to him. And yet, he still tells it.

Lloyd is a living example of a person in recovery who uses his incredible story as a way to help other people experiencing mental health challenges and spread awareness that mental illness doesn’t define you as a person. As he explained to me, his main message has always been: “For those in recovery, it’s our responsibility to be open and share our stories with the people in our community who are still living in darkness.”

If you are living in recovery and you feel inspired to share your story after watching this documentary, here are a few pieces of advice to help you communicate your mental health journey:

  1. It’s normal to be nervous. Do whatever you can beforehand to calm your nerves.
  2. Don’t shy away from sharing your darkest days.
  3. Sharing your story can make you feel vulnerable—it’s okay to get emotional while sharing.
  4. Make sure to be specific about what helped you get to your brightest days.
  5. Try to end on an inspirational or informative note.

You are brave and strong for sharing your journey. Always remember: You’re not alone, there is hope and you can make a difference.

Check out the Beyond Silence documentary here.


JUL, 24, 2018 07:07:08 PM
Mary Jane Pita
So sorry to hear about Demi Lovato's overdose. I am praying for her. I am also bipolar. I thank her for standing to remove the stigma of mental illness and all of you out there who have shared your stories. I recently had an opportunity to share my story in a very public way. I did so as I learned about the suicide epidemic in this country. I was so moved by the suicide of Kate Spade and Daniel Boudin that I realized I knew I must share my story as I had personal experience with suicide. I tried to commit suicide 3 times. I shared in hopes that I can change someone's mind out there.

MAR, 21, 2017 02:05:59 AM
Pamela Urioste
My story begins many years ago, before the term Bipolar Disorder. I would like to, and believe I am ready to share my story. Thank you to those who have had the courage to share theirs.

MAR, 20, 2017 04:03:41 PM
Kathy Dreyer
Thank you Lloyd and all the others who reach down deep inside themselves to find they are not the despicable individuals that stigma would have them believe they are.

MAR, 11, 2017 07:06:52 PM
Effie Hughes
I have been dealing with anxiety, depression and tendency towards bi-polar for the past 30 years. I find that people don't want to listen to you. They just want you to not talk to them. They are too busy, they don't want to know why you are like you are, they just want to tell you what to do or not to do. Your grown children have no time for you. You are friendless, or you feel this way. I am looking forward to reading your subscriptions. Sincerely, Effie Hughes

MAR, 11, 2017 04:05:40 AM
Jesse rayner
I have ADHD anxiety schizophrenia and I'm being abused by the system I don't know where to turn for help

MAR, 10, 2017 02:52:53 PM
Christina Drews
thank you for sharing your story. I really want to share mine. I'm healed enough to do so. They say you know your healed when you can share your story.

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