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Where We Invest Ourselves Shapes Our Story
Students' real stories show that where we place our time, trust, and energy, our social assets, can shape how deeply we're affected by stress, trauma, or even depression. So what are they?
We felt it's worth making a film of the stories and self portraits. You invest your emotions in people, dreams, careers, and passions. But how do you ensure these investments are balanced? Research shows imbalanced investments can be problematic in the face of loss. The short film project explores trauma-induced depression and anxiety, using real stories to uncover the deeper factors behind emotional burnout and depression among young people. Join us in understanding and sharing experiences that help us navigate emotional well-being.
However...
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or feeling suicidal in the UK, please seek immediate help.
*The University of Bristol team (2022/23)
TELL YOUR STORY JOURNAL...
Listening to what students have said after reading and hearing the anonymous stories of over 800 others:
“What they’ve shared is powerful.”
Many spoke of feeling overwhelmed and emotionally stretched—yet reading about students like them made them feel less alone.
“It’s not just about the struggle; it’s about the process of discovery.”
“Seeing how others made it through—even if they're still figuring it out—helped me feel like I could too.”
It became a collective journey, not isolated desperation.
A MESSAGE FROM THE HAPHE TEAM
Thanks for stopping by!
My name is Sylvia, a HAPHE Ambassador. In the Autumn of 2021, between classes and grabbing pizza, a friend and I found ourselves chatting about our mental health—hers, mine, and pretty much everyone we knew. Spoiler alert: things weren’t great.
But important conversations slip into the background. Bits hang in the air. Friends, exams, parties—they came and went, and honestly, so did our conversation on our determination to do something about "it" . At the beginningr of second year, I randomly came across the HAPHE Café team - they visited a university near ours—University of Bath. Guess what? I decided to join their team as an ambassador at my university— I just thought they were cool, crazy, I wasn't thinking—
But as time went on, their message—“diversify your emotional investment”—really started to click for me. I started actually doing the stuff I was talking about. I tried out new hobbies - not just one, I got closer to some friends - not just one, and I even picked up two extra vocational courses, even though accountancy was my goal.
I was diversifying. And guess what? It actually worked. I didn't know it at the time but my emotional energy was no longer singularly invested in single aspects of life. If you had asked whether or not I thought I was getting mentally tougher I would have wondered what you were talking about. It was a year later when my long-time boyfriend dumped me, then it dawned on me. Before HAPHE, the breakup would’ve sent me into a spiral. Now, I noticed the "bounce back". Some might have said I'd become more resilient. It took me a long time to own up to that myself. But when I did start noticing, It became my mission to tell everyone about HAPHE.
As more of us start spreading the word about the importance of diversifying our emotional investments, there have been changes. The real question is: what’s next? This is just the beginning, and more students need to hear this message and understand how to build those diverse emotional connections. Let’s keep raising awareness and showing everyone how to strengthen their mental resilience. Join us and be part of the change.
Together, we’ve got this. So stay safe, and keep your connections healthy.
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Sylvia McAllister
University Of Bristol
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BECOME YOUR
UNIVERSITY'S
HAPHE Café HOST.
Join us in creating meaningful connections and improving mental well-being. As a University HAPHE Café Host, you'll help spread awareness about mental health and support by holding space for students to write. Journaling is more than just putting pen to paper, it is for some the very first time they have allowed their minds to breath. Our goal is to reduce depression by 25% by 2030. It starts by understanding
To learn more sign up to becoming a HAPHE Café Host at your University. It's fun, it's impact and more.
All you need is a passion for trauma prevention. Sign up to learn how we will support you and your personal goals too!
OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS WHO BELIEVE ONE PERSON'S STORY CAN HELP ANOTHER PERSON.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our corporate sponsors for their unwavering support.
Your belief in our mission to prioritize prevention has been instrumental in driving positive change and making a lasting impact on the mental health crisis faced by young people.
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Would you like your employer to sponsor a University for a term, A semester or even the whole year!
Find out what it means to be a Corporate sponsor and the impact you'll have.
* Our Well-being Ambassadors!
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR STORY READ ON THE DIARY ANONYMOUS PODCAST
Corporations analyse the financial journeys of other corporations to uncover valuable insights and opportunities? At a recent conference celebrating 22 years of the Centre for Trauma, Resilience, and Growth at the University of Nottingham, Our very own Shola Morgan (Applied Anthropology -University of Oxford) posed a question, Why don't we do the same. Learn from the lived experiences of young people.
As a former corporate Management Accountant, Shola shared how young people, too, can learn from the experiences of those who’ve walked similar paths. Just as corporations prepare for the future by gathering data and planning budgets
Shola believes that these stories have the power to shape, challenge, and fortify our own lives, equipping us with the tools to navigate life and avoid trauma.
Curious about how your story could be the lifeline someone else needs? Let’s explore the possibilities together!
If you are not logged in on to Spotify you'll only hear a 30-second long audio preview.
ARE YOU A UNIVERSITY OR
COLLEGE ALUMNI?
Come the 2025/26 academic session, HAPHE will be working with over 56 Colleges and Universities across the country. You've been there and worn that T-Shirt!
Come join us; your knowledge and experience of your time at University could be of vital importance to young people who are where you've been. Some simply can't see a way through. If you believe that trauma
Most of all you'll be a tremendous physical presence and person to speak to.
Are you 35 and under as well as a college or University Alumni?
Why not join our college outreach? We'll arrange training and guidance too.
“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in.” ~ Desmond Tutu.
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“The World Health Organization has named depression the number one cause of disability in the world,”
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Research has shown that anxiety and trauma led depressions are rising faster
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Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide
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Reserach has shown that trauma led depression is rising
* Source: World Health Organisation (WHO)
BECAUSE PREVENTION CAN BE A CURE
We believe prevention can be a deficit reducer. Our bold goal is that by 2030, over 50 million people will benefit from our "HAPHE Café" campaigns.
We'll be equipped to prevent trauma and anxiety-led depression, reducing mental health challenges and suicide rates.
Join us as a HAPHE Café Lead at your University. Together, we can make prevention through story a reality.
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BECOME AN AT HOME SUPPORT VOLUNTEER
Join us in making a meaningful impact on mental health prevention. Our support volunteer positions are vital to our mission a
Our current volunteer positions are here. On the other hand click here if you are currently at University and want to be a HAPHE Café LEAD
ARE YOU A STUDENT WORKING ON RESEARCH ?
WE WANT TO PROMOTE YOU ...
Making a difference in young people’s lives - preventing escalating rates of depression comes in many guises and you could play a part. We would like to acknowledge not just your work but you.
If your work - Any discipline is a study involving young people or a person and loss or emotional trauma, we would love for people to hear about you and your work!
SO... WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HAPHE?
Want to stay in touch? Why not join 'What's Happening at HAPHE'
Because we know children learn by exploring as well as experimenting and asking questions, we've designed tools and activities that are both fun and educational. However, we have a very defined mission.
At the core of HAPHE Fun days is helping children develope a healthy well-being by learning how to make balanced connections with their world. Now more than any time in the last hundred years, the presence of these skills prevents trauma and anxiety-led depression in later years.
The HAPHE Funday children stay motivated and engaged in a life long journey of planning of making deliberate connections
This is a great event for either the whole school or individual grade levels that have multiple classrooms.
If you would like a HAPHE team to come to your school or your class, let us know. We'd be happy to.