Scottee

Scottee is an award winning, self taught artist. He is the host and co-creator of AFTER THE TONE; a weekly podcast about mental health that isn’t depressing (BBC Sounds), and has been a co-host on BBC Radio 4’s flagship show LOOSE ENDS for a decade.

'All my life I’ve used the languages of other people to pass. When I first got into the art game I thought I had to talk posh, so I pretended to be educated and eloquent. Similarly, when seeking support from therapists, psychologists and mental health professionals I adopted their words for what was going on with my brain. Over time, despite push back, I’ve learnt there's nothing wrong with the names I give my invisible ailments, or those moments in which I am caught in psychosis, fear and dread.

This collection is for those of us who find peace in calling overselves mental, rather than soften the edges for others by referring to it as ‘mental health’. For those of us who are still learning to love being a nut job, offering us a bit of space to reclaim language used against us and for us to recognise what being a fruit loop means.

I invite you to wear these slogans across your chest with pride, on your back so there is nowhere to hide, on your sleeve next to your kind heart or on your wall as a reminder of who we are.

Wear them to therapy, collecting meds or in bed when that is the extent of your world. Wear them when you are looking after your favourite nutter or when the moment takes you to be louder than you usually are.

Forever, in solidarity, your mate in Manchester.

Long live the Mental. x' - Scottee