Jessica Luc, Cofounder
As a first hand sufferer of bullying, I have experienced the physical, social and psychological humiliation that teens around the world face daily.
Every individual deserves to be treated equally and be respected, or at least we all hope to be. Sufferers of bullying often feel that they are an odd piece that just does not fit in the puzzle and never belong. I wondered whether it was because of my appearance, because of the way I walked, the words I said. Am I ugly? And then I realized, that I indeed was the odd piece, the piece meant to stand out, to be an example to others of someone who has been cast into the depths and who can, despite this, rise up and help others who are struggling.
Beauty is about helping others see the beauty within themselves, beauty is sharing one's story of suffering so that other sufferers can be empowered, beauty is about giving a voice to those who are silent, As a sufferer of bullying, I am now a fighter for equality, a fighter for freedom and a fighter for humanity. Everyone, you are all be 'you' tiful.
Every individual deserves to be treated equally and be respected, or at least we all hope to be. Sufferers of bullying often feel that they are an odd piece that just does not fit in the puzzle and never belong. I wondered whether it was because of my appearance, because of the way I walked, the words I said. Am I ugly? And then I realized, that I indeed was the odd piece, the piece meant to stand out, to be an example to others of someone who has been cast into the depths and who can, despite this, rise up and help others who are struggling.
Beauty is about helping others see the beauty within themselves, beauty is sharing one's story of suffering so that other sufferers can be empowered, beauty is about giving a voice to those who are silent, As a sufferer of bullying, I am now a fighter for equality, a fighter for freedom and a fighter for humanity. Everyone, you are all be 'you' tiful.
Vanessa Peynenburg, Cofounder
It becomes easy to see ourselves as victims as we endure adversity. For those who find the strength to overcome their battles with mental illness, eating disorders, bullying, and addictions, they realize that instead of being labelled as victims, they must now see themselves as survivors. Anyone who has overcome a mental illness can attest to the fact that doing so was undoubtedly the hardest, yet often most rewarding, challenge that they have ever taken on.
The stigma associated with mental illness and its related issues often squelches people's willingness to seek help. This is where BYOKOB comes in. We want to give a voice to those who have been silenced by mental illness.
You are not alone in this battle.
After battling anorexia nervosa, anxiety, and depression, I understand the overwhelming fear of seeking help. Because mental illnesses are often misunderstood, even by practicing physicians, society belittles those who are suffering from them and may go so far as to say that these people are merely "weak" or "begging for attention". This frequent misconception can cost lives. For example, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, with a 20% mortality rate within ten years of the onset of the illness. This startling statistic sheds light on the need to raise awareness about mental illness, to put an end to bullying, to alter society's perception of beauty, and most importantly, to provide support to those suffering from a debilitating illness.
The stigma associated with mental illness and its related issues often squelches people's willingness to seek help. This is where BYOKOB comes in. We want to give a voice to those who have been silenced by mental illness.
You are not alone in this battle.
After battling anorexia nervosa, anxiety, and depression, I understand the overwhelming fear of seeking help. Because mental illnesses are often misunderstood, even by practicing physicians, society belittles those who are suffering from them and may go so far as to say that these people are merely "weak" or "begging for attention". This frequent misconception can cost lives. For example, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, with a 20% mortality rate within ten years of the onset of the illness. This startling statistic sheds light on the need to raise awareness about mental illness, to put an end to bullying, to alter society's perception of beauty, and most importantly, to provide support to those suffering from a debilitating illness.