The Speaking Out section of MadNOTBad is full of personal experiences and the way in which we make sense of these. In the world of mental distress so many of us feel we are alone. We can feel that we have no voice of our own, or that no one is listening to the voice we do have.

Speaking Out provides people with the chance to tell their stories, share their opinions and reclaim their voices. One of the beautiful things about speaking out is that often, providing you're talking to the right people, you will find that others can relate to your experience and that you're not alone after all. I've been lucky enough to have that experience, and the volume of emails I get for MadNOTBad thanking those who contribute is testament to the fact that talking about mental distress helps.

If you'd like to take this one step further, check out the Take Action section to find out about groups, organisations and campaigns that are proactive in raising awareness and valuing people's individual experiences.

Remember: many of experiences in these pages are contributed by people, like me, who have experienced more than their fair share of emotional distress. As such, some may find these experiences difficult to read. Make sure you take care of yourself and get support if you need it (see Resources section)