Stop the stigma.

Start making waves today.

Make Waves is a movement that aims to stop stigma through stories.

Telling your story can also give others hope, help you in your own journey, and demonstrate that mental illness can affect anyone and any family.

We understand that sharing your or a loved one’s experience with mental illness takes courage, so we want to make it as easy for you as we can.

You can choose to record alone or it may help to have a conversation with a friend or loved one. You can also choose whether to use your name or not; some people use just their first name.

To get started, we’ve put together suggestions for questions to ask yourself or others. How much you discuss is completely up to you. And we’ll never share your story without your permission first.

Story Prompts

Please refer to these prompts if you’re sharing your own personal story. (Scroll down for prompts in telling the story of a loved one’s journey.)

When did you first experience symptoms of mental illness? What did it feel like?

Do you have a few specific memories that you can describe?

Can you describe what it felt like in a way that someone who’s never experienced it can understand?

What was the moment you knew something had to change? Can you describe that moment and what it felt like?

What medical help have you sought? How has treatment helped you?

What has given you hope?

How does your mental health affect your family and friends? Have they been supportive?

What are the common misconceptions around mental illness, in your opinion?

If you could communicate one message about mental illness, what would it be?

Please use these prompts if you’re telling the story of a loved one.

When did your loved one first experience symptoms of mental illness?

How did they describe what it felt like?

How did it affect their life/work/school/relationships?

How did it affect you/your family?

What kind of treatment did they or have they received? How did it help them?

What gave them/you hope?

How did/does the stigma of mental illness affect them?

What are the common misconceptions around mental illness, in your opinion?

If you could communicate one message about mental illness, what would it be?

Submit your story

Thank you for taking the time to record your story. Please fill out the form below and attach your audio file.  Feel free to contact us if you have any questions at [email protected].

We collect your contact information only for verification purposes. We will not share any contact information publicly.

Need help with recording? Nearly every mobile device or computer has an audio recording function, or makes it easy to set one up. Click on your device below for specific instructions on what to do.

 iPhone or iPad  Android device  Mac computer  Windows PC

Hear the stories

Hear stories of hope from others who are making waves to end the stigma of mental illness.