Untold Stories |
Share your story

Untold Stories is a lived experience storytelling project where UNSW students and staff share their personal experiences and journey to recovery to help and inspire others going through similar experiences.

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Isabelle

Stories capture our attention. They have the power to change how we think and feel. They are the narrative that shape our understanding of the world. They can help us learn about common experiences and can make us feel less isolated and alone. In some cases, shared stories may even encourage a person to seek help.

Stories have the power to uplift us, to make us laugh, make us cry – collectively they have the power to create change.
Stories capture our attention. They have the power to change how we think and feel. They are the narrative that shape our understanding of the world. They can help us learn about common experiences and can make us feel less isolated and alone. In some cases, shared stories may even encourage a person to seek help.

Stories have the power to uplift us, to make us laugh, make us cry – collectively they have the power to create change. 

Do you have a story about facing or overcoming a mental health challenge you would like to share? We’d love to hear it. Stories can include: 

  • Your own experiencing of living with or overcoming mental health challenges
  • Your lived experience supporting someone else who has experienced a mental health challenge

This project is ongoing, where expressions of interest are accepted all year.

Why should I get involved?

  • Become more confident and empowered to talk about your own experiences, which can support your wellbeing and the wellbeing of those who hear your story
  • Sharing your lived experience of mental ill-health can help reduce stigma and normalise mental health problems. It can give others a greater understanding of living with mental ill-health
  • You’re supported by trained staff with trust, safety and respect
  • This program includes building skills in the storytelling process, public-speaking, and one-on-one mentoring
  • Potential opportunity to be part of the Untold Stories Exhibition or other projects in the future. 

What’s the process? 

Step 1: Complete the Expression of Interest form with a short summary of your story you wish to share

Step 2: Have a confidential call with a member of UNSW Psychology and Wellness to discuss your story and suitability for the program.

Step 3: Attend the training day, scheduled when various EOIs have been received. 

Step 4: Attend one to one coaching with a member of the training team

Step 5: Share your story to inspire other students and give hope for recovery.
Express your interest

Training

Training is delivered face to face over one day at UNSW. You’ll learn about the story boarding process, what is appropriate to share and how to respond to questions and feedback. From there, you can review your story.  

You will have the opportunity to practice presenting it with a partner and with others in the program.

You’ll get access to one-to-one coaching sessions which will help you tweak and finalise your stories, build your confidence in speaking in public and on camera.  

In any case, we will work with you to refine the story you write, e.g. spelling/grammar, conciseness, to suit how it will be used, or for your privacy and safety. 

How will my story be used?

This program is about sharing real stories from real people. Through this program, you may choose to only participate for your own personal development and to feel confident in sharing your live experiences. After this program, you could use this experience to share your story at public events by your discretion.
Headshot of Inuli Subasinghe

Untold Stories Exhibition

This exhibition is publicly available online. The physical exhibition features some of these stories and displayed across UNSW Kensington and Paddington campuses and UNSW College campus once a year, usually during Mental Health Month in October. 

There is no guarantee that submitted stories will be published but they will all be read. We will let you know if we intend to share your story and confirm with you if you are comfortable with it being shared.
Winnie stands in front of a colourful mural

Photographs

If your story is featured in the exhibition, a professional photographer will take a photograph of you to sit alongside your story. This photograph will represent your story but does not have to show your face if you choose for your story to be anonymous.

The professional photo shoot will occur during a time and location convenient to the photographer and yourself (likely UNSW Kensington campus). You will be given a digital copy of the photograph used as part of this project. 
Lucy Jellema

Public-speaking event

On occasion, Untold Stories participants are invited to share their stories at live events. This may be online or in-person, and held during times such as Mental Health Month, for example. You would be supported by the training team through this process.

What participants say

Untold Stories has had a huge positive impact on me. I felt very supported throughout the initial training stage. Exercises like reflecting on my boundaries as a storyteller and listing my key messages allowed me to create a story that was clear, impactful, and safe for both myself and the audience. I also had many opportunities to practice sharing my story, initially with small audiences, which helped build my confidence. 

From writing and sharing my story, I learned to further accept myself and my mental health journey. Even though I aimed to send a hopeful message, I was also able to honour and dignify my struggles. Ultimately, I think my story emphasised my strengths and my growth, which was very empowering. 

I would highly encourage anyone who is curious to take part in the program. You will be able to help people who have similar experiences as you, and you’ll gain a lot from it too.

– 2020 Untold Stories participant