Fearless Femme becomes Fearlessly | Dr Eve Hepburn

Words by Dr Eve Hepburn | Illustration by Ida Henrich

It’s the start of a new year and, with it, the beginning of a new chapter in our community. After months in the making, we’re delighted to reveal our new name and vision to you: Fearlessly – a mental health magazine for feminists of all genders.

What does this mean? Our community is widening and strengthening. After a consultation with our volunteers, research surveys, and email communications with readers and followers, we’ve made the decision to open our doors to feminists of all genders. This is because we know that mental health does not discriminate: it can and does affect anyone, regardless of gender, race, age, class or sexual orientation. We know that young men suffer too, where the leading cause of death among young men in the UK is suicide.

We also believe we need a feminist lens on mental health more than ever, because of our conviction that mental health is strongly linked to gender inequalities and stereotypes. Research shows that mental health issues tend to manifest differently amongst genders, with young female and non-binary people suffering higher rates of anxiety and depression, and young men from higher rates of addiction and suicide. We also know that the causes of mental distress for young female and non-binary people can often be linked to sexual objectification, discrimination or domestic violence; while young men are subject to the pressures of ‘toxic masculinity’ and are less likely to seek help given that mental health issues are often presented as ‘weaknesses’ anathema to masculinity.

We believe that we need transformational change in the way in which society talks about mental health and gender, and that the only way we can tackle the mental health crisis is to change the conversation together. That is the aim of Fearlessly.

Mental health is isolating. Sometimes you feel that you are an outcast from society, struggling with emotions and feelings that nobody should be burdened to carry. But we at Fearlessly need you to know that you are not alone.

That’s why we’re focussing this month’s magazine content on community – because we all need to feel a sense of belonging. As the incredible articles, poems and artwork in this issue attest, communities can come in all shapes and sizes. Over the next few weeks we’ll share articles about such things as creating a community just by having weekly dinners with your flatmates (by Bettina Hernberg and Jack McConnell), volunteering with a local non-profit (Josie Deacon), or becoming part of a bigger global movement for equality (as Talat Yaqoob will elaborate on in a Q&A). Peter Mathieson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh will talk about the university community and how it can sometimes feel isolating despite the massive number of communities you can join, and the little but important ways we can help each other overcome that isolation.

But the most important community for us here at Fearlessly is the one we’re creating right now, together, to break down mental health stigma and give young adults a voice to share their story. Our latest figures show that we’ve been read by over 20,000 people in 129 countries around the world, and that number is growing on a daily basis. Together, we are changing lives. Together, we are overcoming isolation. Together, we are making a difference. So thank you for being part of our global community, dear reader: we couldn’t have done it without you. Here’s to a happy, healthy and fearless 2019.