When we tell stories that focus on the success of a single person, we leave people out and miss an opportunity for our story to have greater impact.
For example, if you’re telling a story about mental health focused on one person’s experience, that person might have had things like money, a supportive family, or education that others might not have. To avoid painting a picture that others don’t see themselves in, the story should show the bigger picture of mental health, including the challenges many (or all) people face.
This also helps people understand the broader issues at play. Since many people view mental health from an individual perspective, they need help seeing how it’s also shaped by larger systems and contexts. By broadening the perspective, we can help shift the conversation to view mental health as a public health issue.
By using a wider lens, we can make sure that personal stories are relevant to everyone, not just to people with similar experiences.