“I said, ‘I don’t want depression’, and then just started crying.”
February 1 marked the beginning of #TimeToTalk, a campaign to raise awareness and spark conversation about mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. In her video Depression, Me & Make-up, makeup guru Sam Chapman sat down and did exactly that.
Sam, one half of Pixiwoo, has previously discussed her anxiety but opened up in a more personal way to share her recent experience with depression. “I wasn’t actually going to mention this because it is quite personal,” she explains. “But then I thought that’s probably exactly the reason I should discuss it with you.”
Depsite the serious topic, the video has a soothing element to it as Sam applies her makeup while sharing the story, creating a relaxed and conversational tone.
Mentioning that she was not aware of her depression until a friend brought it to her attention, she explains that “a really good friend of mine told me I should go and see a doctor and he has experience with depression”, adding that he felt so strongly about it he booked the appointment for her himself.
Sharing some of her own misconceptions about the illness, she discusses feeling disconnected from others, adding that “I didn’t think depression felt like that”. As is quite common, she associated the illness more with deep sadness, not disconnection and the feeling of isolation.
Throughout her story, Sam discusses some of the makeup she is applying, ending the look with a beautiful red lip. It may seem like a odd fit considering the topic, but it creates a more open feel to the video. It reminds us of the type of deep conversation you might have with a friend while getting ready for an evening out.
Sam’s reasoning for sharing her story so openly really makes the video stand out. She ends it by saying that she didn’t make it for herself, mentioning that that “I have everything under control and don’t need advice” – it was because, as she puts it, “I know what it like to be in a situation where I didn’t know I had depression and the only person who knew I had depression was someone who had experienced depression before”.
Later that evening, she also held an Instagram Live chat, answering some questions around the topic. We were able to catch some of it and have to say it was a very frank, open, and honest discussion surrounding living as an adult with depression.
Sam wasn’t the only content creator to discuss mental health that day. Among many other creators, Andrea Wade from itsokaytotalk also opened up about the importance of conversation and her experience with bottling up issues around mental health.
To Sam, Andrea, and all the other content creators who have shared their stories about mental health problems – not just for #TimeToTalk, but all year around – we would like to say thank you. Your voices are making a difference and your bravery is noticed.
Want more?
Read about ten YouTubers fighting mental health stigma. Alternatively, for another Video Spotlight, check out Danielle’s Diary‘s Coming Out To My Family.
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