http://www.indiegogo.com/TheMentalHealthStruggle

A lot of people don’t realize that depression is an illness. I don’t wish it on anyone, but if they would know how it feels, I swear they would think twice before they just shrug it. Jonathan Davis.

How many people do you think face mental health issues every day? That number in your head would probably need doubling before you got anywhere close. Depression, post traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s, bi-polar, anxiety, agoraphobia, eating disorders, ADHD, the list is completely endless.

What do these people do to get by? Take tablets, see counsellors, get told it will “all go away eventually.”

Others do some incredible things; such as become a celebrity, run a business or travel the World in a boat.

It is about time that these people’s stories were told. In order to give inspiration to others, be recognised for their achievements and to help those who are also going through tough times. The Mental Health Struggle – From Agoraphobe to CEO is a book in the making that aims to put together all of these incredible people’s stories. So far, we have over 100 real stories to sort through and thousands of real pictures. Once this is completed, it will become the most inspirational and motivational book of all time, the profits of which will be divided by several mental health charities.

About the book itself

The Mental Health Struggle – From Agoraphobe to CEO will be an A5 size book that has lots of stories, pictures and quotes. It’s the kind of thing you would be able to pick up on the train, bus, toilet (if you fancy) and just read a part of. It’s not going to be some long, boring novel that you have to read in any given order. That’s the great thing about it, it is short bursts of inspiration and motivation! We like those words.

All of the profits from the book will be divided between 5 mental health charities which are:

Mind

Time To Change

The Mental Health Foundation

And two smaller charities which are currently being nominated by their supporters.

The cover and artwork is currently being designed by DesignMatic so we will update the project as soon as we have the final piece.

This is what an A5 looks like. See, like small but big.

The people who are sending in stories have also been sending in poetry, artwork they’ve done and even little gifts. How cool is that? It means that we can jam pack the book with as many exciting bits and bobs as possible. Plus it makes it much more exciting to read.

Rewards for getting involved

Please note: If you are outside the UK then add an extra £10 for postage on the heavier items (hardbacks, etc) and £5 for the paperback and smaller items.

If you just want a t-shirt or picture by Nick Smith then pledge £20 (+ postage if outside the UK) and send us a note. We will ship them out in February.

The most important thing in all this; what do I get?!

Here’s a breakdown of the rewards and what they mean:

Beginner’s Badge:

Exactly what it says on the tin really! Designed by Masato – A top London fashion designer

A lovely letter: Gets you the button badge and a handwritten letter from Rebecca, creator of the project.

Early bird special: A paperback copy of the book! These are limited to 50 so once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Super early bird special: Ooooh hardback copy! Even better. There’s only 20 of these though so go go go!

Book launch goodies: A paperback copy of the book and a ticket to come to the book launch in Kent. Plus a goody bag (see more about those further down).

Fashionistas: A hardback copy of the book, a Masato designed t-shirt for the cause and a goody bag.

The ‘Open Mouse’ design, by Masato, featured on a 100% organic & ethical t-shirt

Artistes: A hardback copy of the book, an anime picture (like our team drawings) of yourself from Nick Smith and a goody bag!

Bitta both: Can’t decide? How about a hardback copy of the book, a t-shirt by Masato AND an anime drawing by Nick Smith. Plus the goody bag and a thank you in THE BOOK itself! That’s right, in the book. Your name. Seen by millions. Wow!

VIP: A hardback copy of the book, Masato designed t-shirt AND picture drawn by Nick Smith (like our team pictures) AND a VIP ticket to the book launch in Kent. Plus a goody bag, of course. A VIP ticket means you can hang out with the team, get lots of free drinks and nibbles!

Super fan: A SIGNED LIMITED EDITION hardback copy of the book. There are not very many of these so you’ll be a real super fan! Plus a VIP ticket to the book launch in Kent. Don’t forget your t-shirt AND picture as well! Includes goody bag and a thank you in the book.

Double VIP: 2 x hardback copies of the book, 2 x Masato designed t-shirts AND 2 x pictures drawn by Nick Smith AND 2 x VIP tickets to the book launch. Plus 2 goody bags and a thank you in the book. Like the VIP one but doubled up, basically!

VIP Extra: A limited edition copy of the book,a Masato designed t-shirt AND picture from Nick Smith, a goody bag plus a VIP ticket to the book launch including some lovely grub and a chance to meet Rebecca and the team. We will pay for you to get to the launch (within the UK) . You will get a special mention in the book as well!

Double VIP Extra: Two limited edition copies of the book, 2 x Masato designed t-shirts AND 2 x pictures from Nick Smith, a goody bag for you and one other plus 2 x VIP tickets to the book launch including some lovely grub and a chance to meet Rebecca and the team. We will pay for you to get to the launch (within the UK). You will have a special mention in the book as well! It’s doubly exciting!

Super duper VIP extra LIMITED TO 2: Double VIP Extra: Two limited edition copies of the book, 2 x Masato designed t-shirts AND 2 x pictures from Nick Smith, a goody bag for you and one other plus 2 x VIP tickets to the book launch including some lovely grub and a chance to meet Rebecca and the team. We will pay for you to get to the launch (within the UK) as well as put you both up in a hotel! Also, you will have a special mention in the book as well! It’ll be a nice hotel, don’t worry, none of this Premier Travel Lodge Inn nonsense.

The ULTIMATE: Only one chance to become the ultimate sponsor of this project and have your name featured as a publisher/sponsor of the book. We will write about you and your business in the book as well as on the website. Oh and you’ll get lots of nice goodies to say thanks such as anime drawings of you and one other, Masato designed t-shirts (x2) limited edition copies of the book (x2), VIP tickets to the launch (x2) and some goody bags for you and your loved ones.

Everyone that pledges will be mentioned on the thank you page of the website as well.

About the goody bags:

What are these goody bags you mention? I hear you ask. Well each of the goody bags will be filled with lots of lovely stuff such as buttons and badges, keyrings, mugs, some sweeties and chocolates plus freebies from local businesses. Each one will be slightly different but they will all contain lots of really great stuff worth around £50 or more! The more you pledge, the better the goody bag.

Business sponsorship

We have already had a lot of interest from large corporations and more local businesses. If you wish to get involved as a business then please see this page.

Publicity

Rebecca and her story, as well as the book, have already received quite a bit of publicity. Although there is plenty more on the cards! Press releases have been sent to every international, local and national radio station, newspaper, magazine, website, news site, social media giant and even celebrities.

You can see some of the stuff that has already been published here:

Rebecca’s Huffington Post articles on Mental Health can all be found here

Time To Change (one of the charities receiving profits from the book) has published an article by Rebecca which features the book itself here

An interview with BBC Radio on Monday 14th January about Rebecca’s mental health illness and the project itself can be listened to here from 1 hour and 7 minutes in or on Youtube here

There is also a news story about this radio interview here.

People Per Hour who Rebecca uses for all of her freelance work and income have also posted a story about her and the project on their blog here

Xenios (big founder man from People Per Hour) posted Rebecca’s story on his blog and titled it This IS what gets me up in the morning. Aww, thanks Xenios but I bet it’s your phone going off really.

Young Minds (a UK mental health charity) also wanted a piece of Rebecca’s story about setting up her business. A story that will be featured in this book, in much more detail.

Backing from giant mental health charities such as Mind, Rethink, Young Minds, Black Dog Tribe and Channel 4′s Battlefront.

Mind Retweeting Our Project

A radio interview with KMFM, a local Kent radio station.

Why should I pledge? Or even care?

You don’t have to pledge, or even care. However, there have been many sad stories in the news over the last few years about those whose mental health illnesses get too much.

Remember Amanda Todd? She is just one of the millions of people that face the same things every day. Just because she became an online sensation doesn’t mean that she didn’t think/feel/cry the same way as everyone else.

This book is not focusing on the negative, it’s set to focus on the positive. The inspiration, the motivation and all of the amazing things people around the World do on a daily basis.

Not only that, but every single penny left as profit will be going to the mental health charities that need it most. We are working with The Mental Health Foundation, Mind, Time To Change and several others.

You don’t have to pledge to make a difference to this campaign, we have come up with 10 ways you can get involved without money!

What does the money go on?

£2,750 is going towards publishing the first 500 books including the limited editions and so on.

£1,100 will cover the costs of printing the t-shirts and for the artwork from Nick Smith (in the rewards), as well as goody bags, badges and so on.

£1,150 will cover the fees and costs from IndieGoGo, admin and any legal payments for copyright and so on.

If we go over our target then we would like to be able to print more books, as well as put some money aside for the book launch in May!

ALL PROFITS OF THE BOOK WILL BE DIVIDED BY MIND, TIME TO CHANGE, THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION AND 2 SMALLER MENTAL HEALTH CHARITIES SOON TO BE ANNOUNCED.

About the writers

The people that have been contributing their stories so far are from all around the World, from many different walks of life. All have one thing in common; a mental health illness. Some have got over them with incredible stories, others are still battling but doing some pretty amazing things.

All of these stories are being put together in book format by Rebecca (Bex) Walton who is a freelance writer from the UK. She has spent most of her writing career doing boring things in marketing, but has always wanted to write a book. Rebecca has agoraphobia (afraid of leaving the house) but wasn’t just going to sit back and claim incapacity benefits. This project is going to prove that you can do it, I can do it, she can do it, and his dog can do it too.