Tell your story.

What Keeps Us is a project that explores the small, fleeting moments which exist in the margins of mental health struggles.  A sunrise breaking through, the weight of a book in your hands, birds singing their dawn chorus, steam rising from your coffee, a song that finds you or a stranger's unexpected kindness.

The familiar rhythm of routine or an unexpected break in the mundane. Sometimes it's weirder than that: The obscure moments, the absurd ones. The little pockets of folly that feel like relief.

These moments aren't solutions. They don't fix things. But they matter. They stay with us. They're the threads of light woven through the tapestry of our experience that can hold us together even when it feels like it's falling apart.

This project will capture these moments, holding them and giving them space by creating a photography exhibition that helps people feel less alone.

What keeps you? Share your moments through images, an audio recording, a voice note, or in writing.. whatever feels right.

The form will guide you through the options. You can choose to share anonymously or with attribution.

Your moments matter. Your story belongs here.  

Before we begin.  

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.  I want you to know I will treat everything shared with me with the up most respect. Your stories will help shape a project that aims to offer a thread of joy to those that need it and a reminder to all to be kind and considerate of others. 

If participating brings up difficult feelings please don't push yourself. Stop. Maybe come back later, maybe don't. You come first.

You don't have to go through difficult feelings alone. If you are able, please reach out to a safe person, otherwise there are lots of services offering immediate support. 

It is okay to reach out to them. Here are some I have used in the past: 

Samaritans: 116 123 - Any time of day or night someone will be there to listen.

Text SHOUT to 85258 - A 247 texting line

Mind: 0300 102 1234  - 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday a safe space to talk and get advice on supportive steps