High-profile support for Fearless Femme; six months since our official launch and my, how we’ve grown…
Illustration by Ida Henrich
JUST six months after our official launch we’ve gone from strength to strength at Fearless Femme – with the newest magazine attracting the support of First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and news that we’ve been shortlisted for a national award!
With universities and colleges across Scotland and the UK heading back this month after a long, hot summer, the current edition of our digital magazine, featuring the First Minister, gives focus to ‘Next Steps’, centred around life’s transitions, with special focus on the strains faced by those starting, continuing and leaving education. Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Fearless Femme’s institutional project partner, joined us and made a speech at our launch party back in February. Now, just over six months on, we’re humbled and proud that he continues to be a keen supporter of the community we’ve made with our volunteers.
“The people of Fearless Femme are doing great work and I am delighted that they link so well with the University’s values, culture, activities and long-term aspirations. Mental health issues are so important and we all want to do everything we can do to identify and support the needs of members of the University family.”
Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal @EdinburghUni
Figures* on mental health and anxiety around higher education paint a stark picture – with over 45,000 students accessing counselling services in Scottish universities over the last five years, representing a 76 per cent increase in demand. And, worryingly, a global study** released just last week showed one in three first-year university-level students reporting symptoms of a mental health disorder.
Fearless Femme is campaigning to improve student mental health services both during and after university, when many students experience a ‘post-graduation’ dip in their mental health. Our policy recommendations so far include more pre-arrival student mental health support, mental health first aid training for academic and professional staff, greater wrap-around student counselling support, and a more honest narrative in universities about failure and managing expectations.
Fearless Femme was set up by former university lecturer and social entrepreneur, Dr Eve Hepburn, following the loss of her step-brother to suicide two years ago. Having already suffered a breakdown and mental ill-health after a series of traumatic events, including the sudden death of her boyfriend when she was just 19 years-old, Eve knew she had to do something to improve outcomes for young people suffering in isolation and lacking support in building resilience.
Fearless Femme focuses on three areas: the production of a digital magazine showcasing the mental health stories and artwork of young women and non-binary people; an online membership community welcoming feminists of all genders; and evidence-based research on the mental health of its readers.
As a new addition to Scotland’s strong social enterprise community, we’ve recently been shortlisted for a national prize – the Social Enterprise Scotland 2018 ‘One to Watch’ award and we’ve received the support of The Thick of It star and Social Enterprise UK patron, Chris Addison, who recently urged his massive Twitter following to check out our project!
“Fearless Femme is exactly the magazine the world needs. More than a magazine, actually – a community. And all geared to helping young people deal with life’s challenges and pressures and stigmas, to give them confidence and a voice and to help destigmatize mental health issues. We’ve never needed it more.”
Chris Addison, @mrchrisaddison
So far, over 200 volunteers have donated short stories, articles, poems, artwork, comics, photography and spoken word recordings reflecting on their mental health experiences, in a bid to help others feel less alone; many have also taken part in our research programme, and our first research report is due to be published this November.
In the sixth edition of our digital magazine, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is joined by comedian Katy Brand, broadcaster Jennie Cook and the University of Edinburgh’s Dr Sara Shinton to give young people advice on how to look after their mental health and wellbeing at this important time of their lives.
Set up as a social enterprise, our Edinburgh base runs a skeleton staff who manage submissions from a group of voluntary contributors, and all report benefits to their own wellbeing and perspective from being given a space to talk openly about mental health.
Talking about Issue Six, our founder and CEO, Dr Eve Hepburn, reflected on the speed with which we’ve grown and the impact we’re having;
“We’re honoured and proud to have over 200 voices talking fearlessly about their mental health journeys and we’re humbled to hear from volunteers and readers that the community we’ve created is having a positive impact in their life. Fearless Femme is being read by thousands of people in over 117 countries and our vision is to become into the leading mental health magazine and creative community in the UK for young people, providing an antidote to media that exacerbates the stress of today’s world. And our aim isn’t just to change the narrative – we also want to concretely change the political and policy context in which young adults can receive support and help. We’ll be doing this by publishing research reports seeking to influence government policy change through our findings and recommendations. We’re leading a path to global change and we believe that together, Scotland can lead the world in making changes that make real impacts on people’s lives.”
Dr Eve Hepburn, Fearless Femme Founder, @EveVHepburn
Rare print copies of the magazine will be handed out to University of Edinburgh Freshers, Fearless Femme volunteers and subscribers over the coming weeks. Writing in the magazine, First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, talks about her own university life and things she does now to help combat stress and put her thoughts in order.
“Recent years have seen a heightened awareness of mental health in society, and that is to be welcomed – and, as First Minister, I’m particularly pleased that young people are playing a key part in considering how we improve our mental health. [….] It is a huge issue – and I know it’s a huge issue for young people – and I am confident that together we can continue to make real changes.”
Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister @NicolaSturgeon
Broadcaster, Jennie Cook, also shared how life changing having a baby can be – and how to deal with Imposter Syndrome during big transitions. The Next Step also features articles on: cultivating resilience at university; developing a healthy relationship with alcohol; how to budget; managing mental health in the workplace; post-traumatic growth; and our research on mental health. Writer, comedian and broadcaster, Katy Brand, also gives advice on dealing positively with change:
“I have changed my life many times in many different ways, big and small. It has been hard, but with every shed skin I have emerged bolder and brighter. […] So, if you feel the desire to change yourself, your career, your friends, your partner, your surroundings, just do it. You are your greatest strength, and your new skin will be stronger and more flexible than ever.”
Katy Brand, Comedian, Writer & Actor @KatyFBrand
Finally, some of our incredible volunteers have been sharing with us about how the experience of contributing to Fearless Femme has had a positive impact on their own lives and wellbeing:
“Fearless Femme has been fabulous for me – I feel validated as a writer, and I have made some great friends. Being linked to a team at Fearless Femme who clearly care about me as an individual as well as the mental health of young people generally is powerful – I know if I need support with my writing the team will be there to help me. People have reached out to me to say how much my writing has helped them, which just makes me so tremendously happy.”
Jess Kershaw, Fearless Femme Volunteer Writer, @jessbettykay
“Writing for Fearless Femme was the start of my writing journey, they gave me the building blocks to not only grow my skill in writing but to build my confidence in talking about mental health. I feel that this journey has given me so much strength and passion, which all started with a submission to Fearless Femme.”
Charlotte Underwood, Fearless Femme Volunteer @CUnderwoodUK
“I’m far from fearless, but it’s easier now to talk about the things that brought me so much shame less than a year ago. It still creeps in every once in a while, but it’s not strong enough to consume me. Writing for them, talking to their team, reading submissions from others, it’s all helped pave a road in my head. A road to healing. A road without shame or judgement, covered instead with love and friendship, kindness and understanding, and a helping hand if you need it. I owe a lot to Fearless Femme, and it’s a privilege to be part of their journey to help others like me.”
G.K. Sihat, Fearless Femme Volunteer @GKSihat
For any further information about what we do or how we do it, including how to become part of our thriving creative volunteer community at Fearless Femme, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. It’s been an incredible six months, here’s to 2019 (and keep your fingers crossed for our nomination becoming an award)!
Notes to editors:
Fearless Femme is a non-profit mental health project, magazine, research hub and creative community empowering feminists of all genders to find a better mental space. The aim of Fearless Femme is to empower young people to overcome stress, anxiety and the challenges that life throws at them. The social enterprise launched in February this year at an event, attended by the Minister for Mental Health, the principal of The University of Edinburgh, and leaders in the worlds of mental health, equalities and education.
* https://www.nusconnect.org.uk/articles/demand-for-student-mental-health-services-skyrockets; and https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/student-mental-health-liberal-democrats-edinburgh-glasgow-scotland-universities-a8089206.html
** https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/13/one-in-three-freshers-show-symptoms-of-mental-health-disorder?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
As a social enterprise, Fearless Femme is being funded by the Scottish Government and the European Social Fund to conduct a 12-month pilot project in partnership with the University of Edinburgh on supporting the mental health of young women from 1st January 2018 – 31st December 2018. Fearless Femme was legally incorporated as a Community Interest Company in May 2017, and since commencing operations in January 2018 it has employed a small, part-time team of six staff based in Leith who are working to improve the mental health of young people.
