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Broken hearts not broken brains

  • Series
Black and white photograph showing a close up of a man's face, his eye partially closed. His head leans to the right of frame and his left hand wearing a watch rests on his right shoulder.
Tilney1, exhausted after completing the artwork. © J A Mortram.

Dolly Sen invited five contributors to share their experiences that reflect upon the idea that mental ill health has less to do with a broken brain and more to do with a broken heart, coming from things like trauma, discrimination, poverty and benefits cuts. Each contributor brings their personal experience to the often ignored social and political influences upon mental health, and shows us that the answers won’t be found by looking in to the brain, but into what makes us human.

  • Article

Cracks that let the light in

Rai Waddingham lives with voices other people cannot hear. Here she describes how she has come to accept, understand and calm her voices, and to acknowledge her strength.

  • Article

Building resilience in a racist world

With the resurgence of racism in today’s UK, Louisa Adjoa Parker reflects on the trauma of growing up in a racist society and explores how victims could begin to heal.

  • Photo story

The man who remembers everything

Tilney1 can remember his life in minute detail, but can’t control the incessant intrusion of thoughts and images from the past. As cuts to mental health services isolate him more and more, a crisis approaches.

  • Article

Happy Joy Smile

Drawn from real-life experiences, this short story depicts a character negotiating the UK’s current mental health system. Discover what happens as they encounter waiting lists, sketchy healthcare and punitive government bureaucracy.

  • Article

Stigma, schizophrenia and being transgender

When he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, Ashley McFord-Allister discovered that the medical world will not continue gender confirmation treatment while treating a mental health condition. Here he exposes the prejudice behind this attitude.

About the editor

Black and white portrait of Dolly Sen's head and shoulders. Her tattooed arms are resting on a glass cabinet.

Dolly Sen

Dolly Sen is a writer, speaker, performer, artist and filmmaker. She has been labelled ‘mad’ by a society that has helped to drive her mad. Queer, disabled, person of colour, she is a broken child taped together with glitter and stars. She/they.