Aiming to reduce stigma with a Snapchat series about living with labels

With her new Snapchat series, Norwegian psychologist Maria Østhassel wants to reduce stigma and increase understanding of people who are often given a label. The series is produced with support from the Kavli Trust and has already reached several thousand viewers.

– I hope that hearing directly from people who live with a label can foster greater understanding, reduce stigma, and contribute to a more inclusive society, says Østhassel.

“Merkelapp” (the Norwegian word for “label”) is her latest project for sharing knowledge and information about mental health. The series is exclusively available on Snapchat. Like on TikTok and Instagram, Østhassel shares content under the handle @psyktdeg.

Getting close to courageous people

In each episode, Maria interviews someone about what it’s like to live with a label and be put in a box by others.

–– This series allows viewers to get really close to courageous people who dare to be vulnerable, says Østhassel.

– By giving their vulnerability a voice, they express things that society needs to hear to understand their reality, and the challenges they face when society doesn’t understand them and instead puts them in a box, she explains.

The first four episodes can be viewed at the bottom of this article.

Personality disorders and overweight

The first episode, released on 16 August, features actor and social commentator Ulrikke Falch, who shares her experiences of living with a personality disorder.

The second episode introduces Malin Solberg Lyngen, who talks about growing up in poverty in Norway.

Actor and presenter Abubakar Hussain is featured in the third episode, sharing his experiences with the label “overweight”. He is followed by author and social commentator Ingeborg Senneset, who has lived with anorexia nervosa for many years.

It takes courage to take part

Usually, Maria Østhassel shares knowledge about mental health through posts and videos where she is the central focus.

In Merkelapp, her role as host is to highlight the people she interviews and their experiences.

– I’m incredibly grateful that so many people agreed to take part. It took courage, and all of them did it to give others in the same situation a voice, says Østhassel.

In each episode, she also shares professional knowledge about the topic in an accessible and informative way.

– I’ve engaged with many of these issues as an outsider, but to truly understand, we need to listen more to those affected and give them a voice, Østhassel emphasises.

Two episodes are released each week. The fourth episode, released today, features comedian and speaker Sofie Frøysaa, who talks about different aspects of living with Tourette’s syndrome.

Upcoming episodes will explore life with labels such as refugee, bipolar disorder, transgender person, ADHD, and social exclusion.