#LoveMeFirst

World Schizophrenia Day is hugely important, not just as a vehicle for raising awareness of the condition and its challenges; but because broad, compassionate mental health discussions help dismantle stigma.

I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact of campaigns created to tackle these challenges, which is why I’m proud to support the #LoveMeFirst campaign. We partnered with patient groups across Europe to develop a series of love letters – written by real patients – that highlight the link between self-worth and mental health, and the important role this plays in recovery. Only by starting the conversation, speaking and listening openly, can we truly start to make a difference to global health.

I read through the letters myself and was touched by their sincerity. The one that impacted me most – and inspired me to write this piece – was written by a patient living with schizophrenia. It was a story of a resilient individual who had not found things easy but had found a way to deal with their condition, cope with their feelings and live a positive and fulfilling life.

I hope that through #LoveMeFirst, we can spread this message and help people realize that they’re not alone. It’s not easy to live with these conditions, but there can be a positive outcome. I would love for as many people to read these inspiring letters as possible, with the aim to help improve the lives of those living with mental health conditions.

Only by openly discussing these conditions can we hope to reduce the stigma, and a campaign like this is only as strong as the people who take part, so please lend your voice and your support by visiting @JanssenEMEA’s Twitter page over the next week, reading the letters and sharing those that speak to you. If you don’t manage to find the time, we’ll be creating a final eBook which will be revealed on the last day of the campaign, May 31st.

Thank you,

Kris