How can Krista‘s story influence policy-making for mental health?

Anyone would feel sympathy for Krista. She grew up in challenging circumstances, with an unsupportive family including an alcoholic father, all of whom found it hard to cope within a society that discouraged openness of any kind. Krista’s story is remarkable in its forgiveness, recognizing that her father would also have his own story of broken expectations to tell.
Importantly Krista also recognized that the sad, isolated and hopeless person she had become was not her real self. She was lucky to find a sympathetic and competent therapist who offered her the help she required, and she rediscovered her real self again, at last. Since then she has used her experiences to help others, and has made a great success of it. Krista took her opportunities and is positive about life, and therefore generates goodwill around her.

What stands out for me is that this story shows what can be achieved if mental health services work sensitively together with a person suffering from problems. This is a story of true empowerment. It also is a story of a positive environment, telling of people willing to help someone who suffered adversity, such as the provost. In mental health care we are too often focused on the negative side of experiences of stigma and discrimination: these are only too real, but we too rarely hear about goodness of human beings.

Dr Matt Muijen, Regional Adviser, WHO/Europe