When it comes to mental health, experiences can vary significantly from one person to another. Take the case of Lily Smith, a body-positive advocate from the UK. During her teenage years, she confided in a doctor about her suicidal feelings, only to be dismissed because, as he said, she didn’t “look suicidal.” This comment has haunted her for over a decade, but now at 24, Lily is committed to challenging the stereotype that there is a specific “look” associated with mental health struggles.
Through her blog and Instagram account focused on self-love, Lily aims to convey that mental health issues do not manifest in a singular way. By sharing side-by-side photographs, she illustrates her point: “This is the danger of assuming mental health has a ‘face’… In both of these images, I was struggling with suicidal thoughts, albeit in different ways.”
Lily lives with borderline personality disorder (BPD), which complicates emotional regulation and affects approximately 1.6 percent of adults in the U.S., according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In her posts, she opens up about the vulnerability of sharing her struggles, insisting that it’s okay to seek help: “I’m not weak or horrible; I just need support. If you feel the same, remember you’re not alone — you deserve help, and there’s no shame in asking for it.”
One particular photo has recently drawn attention: in it, Lily is smiling, her hair styled and makeup done, with the caption revealing it was taken just seven hours before she attempted suicide. “I had no idea I would be in that dark place by morning,” she shared. “I was simply enjoying how I looked in that moment. With BPD, my mood can shift rapidly over the smallest triggers.”
This powerful image has received over 12,000 likes, along with countless comments from others sharing their own experiences with depression. One user wrote, “Thank you for shedding light on this issue. I deal with chronic depression, and many don’t understand that even when life seems great, the darkness can return unexpectedly.”
Lily’s impactful photos are igniting essential conversations about mental health, emphasizing that depression doesn’t always have a visible sign. It’s crucial to believe individuals when they express their struggles, regardless of how they may appear outwardly.
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In summary, Lily Smith’s journey sheds light on the often invisible nature of mental health struggles, reminding us that appearances can be deceiving and that support is vital.