The Bumblefly Effect

An intersectional & global collective of creatives committed to breaking the stigma of mental illness. INSTAGRAM: @thebumbleflyeffect

[fuwaprince]

US Helplines:

Depression Hotline: [phone]

Suicide Hotline: [phone]

LifeLine: 1-800-273-8255

Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Sexuality Support: 1-800-246-7743

Eating Disorders Hotline: [phone]

Rape and Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673

Grief Support: 1-650-321-5272

Runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000

Exhale: After Abortion Hotline/Pro-Voice: 1-866-4394253

Child Abuse: 1-800-422-4453

UK Helplines:

Samaritans (for any problem): 08457909090 e-mail [email protected]

Childline (for anyone under 18 with any problem): 08001111

Mind infoline (mental health information): 0300 123 3393 e-mail: [email protected]

Mind legal advice (for people who need mental-health related legal advice): 0300 466 6463 [email protected]

b-eat eating disorder support: 0845 634 14 14 (only open Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm and Saturday 1pm-4.30pm) e-mail: [email protected]

b-eat youthline (for under 25’s with eating disorders): 08456347650 (open Mon-Fri 4.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 1pm-4.30pm)

Cruse Bereavement Care: 08444779400 e-mail: [email protected]

Frank (information and advice on drugs): 0800776600

Drinkline: 0800 9178282

Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999 1(open 2 - 2.30pm 7 - 9.30pm) e-mail [email protected]

Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 every day, 6pm to midnight

India Self Harm Hotline: [phone]

India Suicide Helpline: 022-27546669

Kids Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868

FREE 24/7 suicide hotlines:

Argentina: 54-0223-493-0430

Australia: 13-11-14

Austria: 01-713-3374

Barbados: 429-9999

Belgium: 106

Botswana: 391-1270

Brazil: 21-233-9191

China: 852-2382-0000

(Hong Kong: 2389-2222)

Costa Rica: 606-253-5439

Croatia: 01-4833-888

Cyprus: 357-77-77-72-67

Czech Republic: 222-580-697, 476-701-908

Denmark: 70-201-201

Egypt: 762-1602

Estonia: 6-558-088

Finland: 040-5032199

France: 01-45-39-4000

Germany: 0800-181-0721

Greece: 1018

Guatemala: 502-234-1239

Holland: 0900-0767

Honduras: 504-237-3623

Hungary: 06-80-820-111

Iceland: 44-0-8457-90-90-90

Israel: 09-8892333

Italy: 06-705-4444

Japan: 3-5286-9090

Latvia: 6722-2922, 2772-2292

Malaysia: 03-756-8144

(Singapore: 1-800-221-4444)

Mexico: 525-510-2550

Netherlands: 0900-0767

New Zealand: 4-473-9739

New Guinea: 675-326-0011

Nicaragua: 505-268-6171

Norway: 47-815-33-300

Philippines: 02-896-9191

Poland: 52-70-000

Portugal: 239-72-10-10

Russia: 8-20-222-82-10

Spain: 91-459-00-50

South Africa: 0861-322-322

South Korea: 2-715-8600

Sweden: 031-711-2400

Switzerland: 143

Taiwan: 0800-788-995

Thailand: 02-249-9977

Trinidad and Tobago: 868-645-2800

Ukraine: 0487-327715

(Source)

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"I've been down in the dumps lately." - Bethany (@pursuing.positivity)

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June 27th is #PTSDAwarenessDay. According to @namicommunicate, traumatic events, such as military combat, assault, abuse, an accident or a natural disaster, can have long-lasting negative effects. Sometimes our biological responses and instincts, which can be life-saving during a crisis, leave people with ongoing psychological symptoms because they are not integrated into consciousness. Because the body is busy increasing the heart rate, pumping blood to muscles for movement and preparing the body to fight off infection and bleeding in case of a wound, all bodily resources and energy get focused on physically getting out of harm’s way. This resulting damage to the brain’s response system is called posttraumatic stress response or disorder, also known as PTSD. The symptoms of PTSD fall into the following categories: 💐Intrusive Memories, which can include flashbacks of reliving the moment of trauma, bad dreams and scary thoughts. 💐Avoidance, which can include staying away from certain places or objects that are reminders of the traumatic event. A person may also feel numb, guilty, worried or depressed or having trouble remembering the traumatic event. 💐Dissociation, which can include out-of-body experiences or feeling that the world is "not real" (derealization). 💐Hypervigilance, which can include being startled very easily, feeling tense, trouble sleeping or outbursts of anger. People can describe symptoms in a variety of ways. How a person describes symptoms often depends on the cultural lens they are looking through. Marginalized populations are more likely to be misdiagnosed, which is why healthcare professionals must deepen their knowledge of other cultures.

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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! For the month of June we are specifically looking to share the work and stories of members of the LGBTQIA community. If you have work to submit, please send it over to Caitie at [email protected]! According to @beyondblueofficial, the majority of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) people lead happy, healthy, fulfilling lives. However, studies have found that non-heterosexual people face up to twice as much abuse or violence (including physical, mental, sexual or emotional) than their heterosexual counterparts. This prejudice and discrimination adds an additional layer of risk on top of biological, social, environmental and psychological factors which can lead to depression, anxiety and suicide. Research and real life experiences have found that LGBTQIA people have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, substance abuse, self-harming and suicidal thoughts. When compared with heterosexual people, same-sex attracted and transgender people have higher psychological distress and significant levels of anxiety. Young LGBTQIA people with a history of verbal, sexual and/or physical victimisation and abuse have higher levels of social and mental health problems than heterosexual young people – including sexual risk-taking, dangerous use of alcohol and drugs, dropping out of school, homelessness, self-harm and attempted suicide. Let's work together to end discrimination both outside and within queer communities, and better the mental health of those affected by hate, violence, and ignorance!

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***PLEASE READ*** After a few weeks of self-care I am ready to get back into the game. Lots of people have messaged me on Facebook & instagram but honestly it is hard to organize between personal messages & Bumblefly messages. If you have sent me a message of interest, I haven't forgotten! It is just jumbled up in all my other crap. If you are still interested could you PLEASE send me an e-mail instead? You can reach me at: [email protected] (at Sydney, Australia)

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@dannys_style is a fashion blogger with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. BDD is a body-image disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupations with an imagined or slight defect in one's appearance. In reality, a perceived defect may be only a slight imperfection or nonexistent. But for someone with BDD, the flaw is significant and prominent, often causing severe emotional distress and difficulties in daily functioning. Check out Danny's blog for great fashion and also follow as she writes about her personal experiences with BDD. Link: http://bit.ly/2s5tZgv

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"I've struggled with companionship all my life due to the way so many people have hurt me...their words - their actions. I was always different and always alienated. For all the years I was depressed I was fronting expect when I came to face the mirror. People couldn't tell how much pain I was in (and that made me feel strong and proud). One of the things I struggle with now is that nobody will ever be able to understand me, my pain or my plight. I'm afraid I'll get silenced and that I have to pretend I'm ok just to be able to be in a relationship of any sort. It's a daunting feeling. This poem is centred on my wish of having someone I love and love them I would. But the fear that I wouldn't be loved in return is always there. That my mind is very different and I'm very different. I would take a leap for somebody I love but I don't think they'd do the same. I don't think they'd see me as worthwhile or as enough. I don't think much about it these days. I think mainly because I've been learning not too think that way. To untrain myself. I'm trying my best  from one day to the next.  I don't think I'll ever be able to change the feeling that I'll get find somebody to spend my life with. It's just to engrained after so many years.  It's something I've accepted long ago. This poem is a culmination of those feelings in me. That longing to love somebody and things just falling short. There's no space for the narrator to get heartbroken because it was also just a good fantasy but it's an unattainable one ultimately." - Ellie (@madam_ellie)

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From @no.1filthwizard and our friends at @contemplateofficial <--- playlist link in their bio! 🌈 . "This month's playlist is in honor of Pride month.  With artwork by CON O.G. @whoisbobcivil, we celebrate our queer friends and family with this month's selection.  With today marking the 1 year anniversary of the events at Pulse, we must remember to work together for full liberation for the LGBTQ community.  Here's some of Bob's thoughts on their piece: "this piece aims to be a visual representation of the act of ‘queering’ of our reality: how one can see when queerness, as a political ideology, acts as a framework through which to view & analyze our world...for me, queerness is an ideology that allows a platform from which to subvert: unlearn, bend and break binaries, to recognize constructions & challenge the mainstream acceptances of many “ideals” written under the codes labeled as gender, race, sexuality, class, neoliberalism, and imperialism. to recognize the absurdity, we must queer reality: look through your queer lens (we all have one) and put the wisdom you learn into action of deconstruction & change." For the full description, head to our FB page, or Bob's IG! Playlist link in bio..." (at New York, New York)

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"Yesterday in therapy I had one of the most profound experiences of my life. It was the process of discovering a new "alter" and having her speak directly through me, and feeling her emotions. But also being present myself, but dissociated. An odd sensation of being locked in. Blind and hyper aware at the same time. Having thoughts but unable to express them. Expressing thoughts and VERY strong emotions that belonged to her and not me. I've written a poem and drawn a picture to try to help me process this. I hope you like it. It was an incredibly profound moment for me!" - Katy (@katymatildaneo) https://antiparrot.com/2017/06/09/the-tiniest-russian-doll/

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Nevertheless, she persisted. ✊ . "My illness was a prison cell. Recovery was digging my way through the words I had defined myself by. . Recovery has also been learning to make friends with the demon in my mind. Ana; she's evil looking, but I know she is merely an extension of me. A deformed, hurt and angry version of me. Instead of fighting her, I've been reasoning with her and taking care of her. I've showed her life beyond prison. Light, love, hope and happiness ☀️🌈 . Images taken from 'Me and My ED'. You can get your copy from meandmyed.com" - Christie (@meandmyed.art) (at Sydney, Australia)

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The mirror doesn't allow me the happiness that others may have. - Body Dysmorphic Disorder Anonymous

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We are loving this series by @gemmacorrell for @mentalhealthamerica called #mentalillnessfeelslike!!! 😍

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I had a chance to check out Michelle Connolly's (@connollyart) work at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery today and came across this piece. It reads: "She had a good heart, a very likeable woman... she was sometimes a weirdo magnet attracting all gents of character with Bipolar Disorder. She had a label explaining some of the stories. Time to write a book maybe?" (at Chrissie Cotter Gallery)

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So honored to have met @rupikaur_ today after her performance at @sydwritersfest! For those of you who don't know, Rupi was born in Punjab, India, to a Sikh family and emigrated with her parents to Toronto, Canada, when she was four years old. She is a talented & inspiring 24-year-old poet, writer, and illustrator. She is popular for her use of poetry with illustration, all of which she does herself. Rupi works to transform experiences of pain and longing into anthems of acceptance and triumph. She published a book of poetry and prose entitled "milk and honey" in 2015. The book deals with themes of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. It is now a New York Times Best Seller and has sold over one million copies! Her writing has not only made a positive impact on my own mental health and journey to self-love, but has inspired femmes and people of color all over the world. She speaks from the soul and I highly recommend checking out her work if you haven't already. (at Roslyn Packer Theatre)

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New #Artjournal and accompanying #poetry from #katymatildaneoart "Why I'm so Tired" It's a war of attrition; a battle of will. A tug of war that has rarely stood still. Consumption of energy; of willpower each day. Fighting battles I know I'll both win and lose, either way. Because when fighting myself, how can it be, Any other way than the victor is me?! But I'm tired of these battles, tired of this war. Can't even remember when I stopped keeping score. Of petty victories won in my mind, by shells of selves, I've long left behind. To truly win, we need to unite, to truly heal is to confer, not fight. A peaceful congress could end this war. Let's elect a leader and trust her to rule. We'd all have a vote and we'd all have a say. But it's ok to be sad when things don't go our way. But we have to stop punishing. Time to be kind. To the winners and losers of the wars in my mind. But does one yet exist among us all, fit to stand; with the wisdom to rule? I say but no, there is no such one. Though each one shouts loudly that she could become. The biggest the strongest, the loudest of all. But big, strong and loud is not needed at all. So we must build a new leader. Our powers combined. Our own "higher power" a united mind. Original Poetry and Artwork (produced as part of the Art Journal Sketch Series) Copyright Katy Matilda Neo, March 2017. All rights reserved. https://antiparrot.com/2017/04/01/why-im-so-tired/

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Our thoughts are with those affected by the violence of this world. 😔💞 Art & poetry by @rupikaur_

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"took me a hella long time to get the 1-yr-old baby i nanny to let me take her hand // but it was worth it // raise yr hand if you wanna love yrself // #edrecovery" - A. (@girls_in_peacetime)