The Interview
The interview features basic questions to explore background information as well as a set of questions regarding the participant’s thoughts behind mental health and how it is treated in modern medicine. The same set of interview questions will be given to each participant and they may also feel free to pass on any question they don’t want to answer. Depending on the status of answers to questions, specific questions may be added to the interview to gain further insight into experiences or perspectives.
Examples of Interview Questions:
- What was it like for you growing up?
- What are some of your short-term and long-term goals?
- What are some of your opinions regarding mental health?
- What are some techniques that have helped you or others with mental health issues?
-Why do you think advocacy for mental health is important?
The Biography
Straight from the interview, the biography process will begin. Each question will be crafted into a brief overview of their life. Through the art of collaboration, the interviewee will have full control over which information is included in the biography and which information they would rather leave out. Before the biography is posted, we ask for the participant to read over the full text so the neccassary changes can be made. We want to make sure the participant reads their story and feels 100% comfortable with others knowing aspects of their life as well as mental health perspectives. The biography will not be posted if the interviewee does not approve of the biography.
The Post
Sharing personal stories helps bring people together. When people read stories that may have similar aspects to their own situations, they feel more accepted by their community. When going through difficult experiences, the help of their community is significant in helping that person come through on the other side as a stronger individual. Each approved biography will be posted in a blog-like setting under the “Biographies and Podcasts” page. Anyone who views the Inter-VIEW webpage may read the biographies to help gain perspectives of their peers thoughts and feelings. The blogs are posted so everyone in our community may gain insight to stories and how they may be able to help themselves.