“I sneak around the apartment” “Imagine if someone sees me” These are among the quotes that you can see in a window near you from Friday 12 August. The presenter and comedian are among several well-known Norwegian faces who donate their windows to the campaign. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news Donating a window – Will you help me? I am not a practical person. Else Kåss Furuseth is holding in the corner the large poster that is to be fixed, like a drawn roller blind, in her living room window. Fontenehuset employee Håvard Paulsen takes up the tall window. – Two non-practical ones perhaps become one practical one together? With double-sided tape and some drawing pins, Furuseth’s new “curtain” is immediately in place. Two large “roller blinds” are to be installed at Furuseth’s home. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news Real experiences The presenter is among several well-known faces who are giving their support to a new campaign from Fontenehuset. – I am very passionate about this matter here. The aim is to draw attention to what happens to people when they are left alone at home because they are too ill to work or study. The quotes displayed in the window campaign are from people who have suffered psychologically, and who know what it is like to be isolated over time. – They have said how it felt, and what they were afraid of in that period, says Håvard Paulsen from Fontenehuset. – Too many people who are isolated have a desire to get out and be among people, and then they are rather plagued with such stigmas that they cannot go out because they are on sick leave. Håvard Paulsen says it is a problem that people get sicker due to loneliness and isolation when they are on sick leave. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news Close to 95,000 sick reports Statistics from NAV show that 94,754 people in Norway received sickness benefits on psychological grounds in the first quarter of 2022. Fontenehuset also knows that many people experience being completely or partially isolated. Amel Skåre was among them. – I struggled a lot before. Was very trapped in my head. Had no network. Had nowhere to go, she says to news. – Even though I was in therapy, the process of getting better was very slow. An hour a week to connect with someone, and talk to someone, is not nearly enough. The quotes used in the campaign are from people who have known what it’s like to be sitting alone. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news A secret Life changed for the better when Skåre got out through an offer at Fontenehuset, met others and filled his days with some form of activity. Stories like this are the reason why Else Kåss Furuseth is passionate about not only removing the stigma associated with mental illness, but also finding solutions that actually help people get better. – The Fountain House reminds us of an important thing. And it is that there are a lot of people who fall outside. Even if you are on sick leave and have a doctor and a psychologist, there are an incredible number of hours that you have to fill with one opinion or another, she says. – What I have realized, and which I strongly believe in myself, is that even if you are sick, you are allowed to do healthy things. And being with other people, and being part of an environment, is incredibly important. – I know that many people are alone, and that it is a secret, says Furuseth. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news Enormous involvement Initially, the window campaign was supposed to be in Oslo housing estates, but people from all over the country have expressed their interest in participating. It was to be far greater than what the organization had envisioned. – From my point of view, I wanted a debate about the content of periods of life where we don’t get to work or study. I couldn’t imagine that there would be such a big commitment, says general manager Torhild Stimo. 800 “curtains” have been delivered to people’s homes. 2,600 stickers have been distributed, or are at distribution points. Chances are the message is in a window near you. The hope is that the covered windows will attract the attention of passers-by, and focus on the offers that help those struggling mentally to get better. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news
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Else Kåss Furuseth contributes to window campaign for mental health – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
