Our Stories is a 10-part mental health documentary series from URevolution, directed by Kelly Paoli.
Official SelectionSydney WebFest 2020Nominated: Best Documentary Series
In 2018, ten people shared their experiences of mental health with URevolution. We released their stories in 2020.
Six years later, mental health is a familiar subject in public conversation. But the reality of living with depression, anxiety, PTSD or an eating disorder doesn’t always fit into a neat explanation or an uplifting message.
That’s why we’re bringing back Our Stories.
Ten people. Speaking in their own words. Without scripts, interruptions or someone else telling them what their experiences mean.
The original series is returning with full episode transcripts, so each story can be read as well as watched: by people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, who prefer to read, or who can’t play sound.
These conversations were recorded years ago. They remain worth hearing today.
Our Stories. Ten people. Their words. Their experiences.
A short teaser from Our Stories. In Episode 2, Joy talks about being depressed while growing up.
And it was at that point that I really felt like, like I couldn’t do it anymore. We had this trip to New York and I thought, “Okay, great. I just need to maybe have a change of scenery. I’ll go to New York with all these other people I weren’t [sic] really close with.” And I just remember this overwhelming, like, heaviness. Even though I was surrounded by, like, beautiful art and beautiful people, I just felt like, like I was being stepped on. I knew, like, I, I just couldn’t continue. So I went to my high school art teacher and I said, “You know what? I don’t, I don’t think I can do this.”
The people in the series talk about depression, anxiety, PTSD, an eating disorder and more. They talk about family, relationships, work, therapy and medication, and about what has helped and what hasn’t. Every episode has captions and a full written transcript.
Watch all episodes in order on YouTube
David talks about anxiety, depression and a mental breakdown, and about grief after the death of a partner.
Content note: severe depression, mental breakdown, bereavement; references a death linked to depression.
Joy talks about being depressed as a teenager, how family responded, and views on antidepressants.
Content note: suicidal thoughts and crisis in adolescence; family stigma; medication discussion.
Chris talks about mental illness, the diagnoses other people have given, and why naming it doesn’t feel right.
No specific content note.
Olivia talks about mental illness in the family, past relationships, and Olivia’s own mental state.
Content note: abusive relationships and violence; drug use and addiction; abortion; family members’ experiences of anorexia, psychiatric hospital stays and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Jarred talks about anxiety, panic attacks and how thoughts can feel true.
Content note: panic attacks; relationship distress; cannabis use to cope; strong language.
Charis talks about the experience of having an eating disorder.
Content note: eating disorder experiences, including vomiting and purging. Age-restricted on YouTube.
Demi talks about depression, suicidal tendencies, and childhood and family.
Content note: suicidal thoughts; description of another person’s self-harm injuries; childhood verbal and emotional abuse; a parent’s alcohol use; strong language.
Nadine talks about anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks and situational depression, and about going to therapy.
Content note: a friend’s death in a car accident; detailed panic symptoms; hospital assessment; medication discussion.
Jess talks about being raped, and about PTSD and anxiety afterwards.
Content note: a detailed first-person account of rape and sexual assault; trauma; PTSD and anxiety attacks.
In Part 1, Lucy talks about a critical incident at work and what came after. In Part 2, Lucy talks about complex PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis and recovery.
Content note: Part 1: trauma at work, a dangerous flight in a storm, acute distress. Part 2: PTSD, references to suicide, serious illness, fear of dying, and detailed symptoms and treatment.
If something in these episodes brings things up for you, you don’t have to deal with it alone. These services are free and confidential.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 in Canada or the US, or 000 in Australia.
Featuring: David, Joy, Chris, Olivia, Jarred, Charis, Demi, Nadine, Jess and Lucy
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director and editor | Kelly Paoli |
| Cinematography | Jonathan Choi |
| Original score | Milen Petzelt-Sorace |
| Executive producers | Brendan McDonald and Corinne Gray |
| Produced by | URevolution |
Official Selection, Sydney WebFest 2020. Nominated: Best Documentary Series.
With thanks to everyone who shared their story.