You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Mental health<br />
matters<br />
Model, activist, and entrepreneur,<br />
Kenny Ethan Jones is no stranger to<br />
putting himself out there to encourage<br />
open and respectful conversations,<br />
making history as the first trans man<br />
to front a period campaign. Here<br />
he shares his insight on how we can<br />
protect our mental health and, crucially,<br />
how we can all be better trans allies<br />
Follow Kenny on Instagram<br />
@kennyethanjones and visit<br />
kennyethanjones.com<br />
Photography | @Alex_cameron<br />
Mental health matters to me<br />
because… it’s a universal<br />
experience. It’s one of the few<br />
things that we can all understand,<br />
relate to, and empathise with.<br />
There’s a massive difference in<br />
my belief system, characteristics,<br />
and personality depending on<br />
whether I’m experiencing good<br />
or bad mental health. In the good<br />
times, I find it easy to bring my<br />
A-game, overcome challenges,<br />
and believe in my future. In the<br />
not-so-good times, I feel as if I’m<br />
in survival mode, passively going<br />
through life.<br />
The moment I felt most proud of<br />
myself was… the day I started<br />
living my truth.<br />
I would say to anyone struggling<br />
with their mental health that…<br />
you’re stronger than you think.<br />
You’ve survived every-single-one<br />
of your bad days. There is no<br />
good without bad, better days are<br />
ahead – if you believe there are. I<br />
know you are doing the best you<br />
can, and I believe in you.<br />
When I’m lacking motivation I…<br />
remember that motivation is what<br />
gets you started, but passion is<br />
what helps you see it through. So I<br />
remind myself of why I wanted to<br />
do it in the first place.<br />
The best lesson I’ve learned in<br />
life is… not to take things so<br />
personally. I spent the majority<br />
of my life being angry at people,<br />
because I believed they consciously<br />
choose to discriminate against me<br />
for being transgender, and/or a<br />
person of colour, when the reality<br />
was a lot of it was unintentional<br />
ignorance. Fortunately, we live in<br />
a time where people are holding<br />
themselves more accountable for<br />
their bias, but we all need to hold<br />
space for the fact that people are<br />
still unlearning.<br />
For anyone struggling with their<br />
gender identity, I’d say… identity is<br />
complex, and there is no one-sizefits-all<br />
solution. I’m still finding<br />
myself, where my masculinity/<br />
femininity sits, and how much<br />
surgery I want to undergo.<br />
My best advice is this: if it’s making<br />
you happy, keep going, and anything<br />
else, push away.<br />
It’s important to understand what’s<br />
actually you versus what society<br />
expects from you. Ask yourself: if<br />
nobody was watching or judging,<br />
what would my identity look like?<br />
It’s so important to make menstrual<br />
healthcare inclusive because…<br />
the bottom line is: this is a health<br />
matter. Every person deserves to<br />
be informed on their health in a<br />
way that aligns with their gender<br />
identity. For me, I felt alienated,<br />
like periods shouldn’t be a part of<br />
my lived experience, which made<br />
me avoid learning about them. This<br />
meant I wasn’t equipped to take care<br />
of my health, and reinforced that<br />
the subject was taboo.<br />
My advice on how to be a strong<br />
trans ally is… to share our content,<br />
enforce asking for pronouns, be<br />
aware of your privilege, and help<br />
uplift our voices, check-in and offer<br />
your support, and educate yourself<br />
on our experiences.
Change language