Having good friends, getting good grades and feeling at home are exactly what we strive for, but unfortunately they cannot fix our mental health. Reha was enjoying her second year of university in London, England and living with her four closest friends. She was sociable, funny and always knew how to cheer someone up.



The day this photo was taken, her and her flatmates were having a Christmas party for their friends - something they had been planning for a while. However, Reha had been struggling with insomnia for the past two months due to depression and anxiety. At the time of this photo, she had lost a significant amount of weight, could not sleep through the night and faced many depressive episodes. Almost immediately after this photo was taken, she spent the rest of the night in her room alone, not feeling emotionally strong enough to celebrate with her friends. It would not be until two months later that she would be officially diagnosed and start seeking treatment.

As of now, she is currently on a regular dose of anti-depressants and attending therapy. Her depression and anxiety were an ongoing struggle throughout the majority of her degree, and while now more under control, often flare up and cause disruptions in her work, social life and physical health. She is now working at a non-profit and attending courses for a certificate program.