Dubliner Paul Leavy from Jobstown, Tallaght and journalist Carol Hunt described their own experiences at the launch of the campaign to challenge attitudes to mental health.
Paul Leavy was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 17. The chess and football enthusiast was working in a pharmaceutical company after completing his Leaving Cert when, approximately two months after he started there, colleagues began bullying him.
Mr Leavy gradually began experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia including hearing voices, hallucinations, paranoia and delusions.
"It slowly started with voices and paranoia to full-blown hallucinations. It was on and off. First the voices would come and go and then the hallucinations would come and go. It was slowly building up for a couple of weeks before it became obvious to other people," says Paul (26).
"I didn't realise there was something wrong - not really. I thought there was an earpiece in my ear and people were communicating through it. I thought it was just a scary experience.
"I was talking to my parents about being killed and about seeing people on the telly that weren't there and out of the blue comments that didn't make sense. They called an ambulance and I was brought to hospital in Tallaght," he says.
Paul was then diagnosed with schizophrenia.
"One of the doctors said to me, 'you have schizophrenia, you will have it for the rest of your life and you will have to take medication for the rest of your life'. It was like a life sentence at the time."
Paul spent six weeks in hospital, followed by six months in a day centre relearning social skills.
He continued experiencing some symptoms of schizophrenia for three years following diagnosis, but for the last six years, with regular use of his medication, Paul has been symptom free.
Today he works with the Irish Advocacy Network and one of the main aspects of his work is attending psychiatric hospitals where he helps people in their recovery, while he also gives talks in schools and third-level institutions.
He is a keen chess player and teacher, and has run a chess club for the last seven years. He also teaches children's soccer.
"There's a huge stigma. It's a hidden illness and people aren't able to openly speak about it without feeling shame and we want to challenge that.
"Today I have a full and active social life. I've lots of hobbies and I'm working full-time. Schizophrenia doesn't impact on my life. I just have to take my medication and take care to keep active, stress free and not to take on too much."
Sunday Independentjournalist Carol Hunt has suffered on and off from depression since her mid-20s, but nothing prepared her for the bouts of post-natal depression she endured following the birth of her first child, Sophie, seven years ago and following the birth of her son, Oscar, four years ago.
"It's hard to know [ it's post-natal depression you're suffering from]. Being lazy and disorganised . . . the fact that you have no interest in anything - you just think - is this just the life of a mother?" she says. "Your sleep is completely broken. You're waking up every hour. You don't have interest. It's hard to connect with people. Small talk is useless. There's a disconnection and it's physical."
After some time Carol attended her obstetrician and GP and was prescribed medication.
Today she continues to take anti-depressive medication.
"I'm so pro-medication when you think of the good it does. The medication takes you to a well-enough place where you can work on yourself to get better.
"There's this huge stigma about taking medication - but for people who say you don't need it - it's like saying to someone who has broken their leg to have the operation without the painkillers.
"I still have friends who seem to think - we all get down, but if you're strong enough you can work through it without anything. It's not . . . it's different.
"It's important to be aware and seek help if you need it."