The Library of Life is a collection of video stories offering unique personal perspectives on difficult experiences. The stories in our Library have been made by students and tutors at Oxfordshire Recovery College and the Forensic Recovery College.
ABOUT THE LIBRARY
EXPLORE PERSONAL STORIES
Finding My Voice
A film about finding strategies to manage depression
Trigger warning: brief mention of suicidal thoughts
What's in a name?
A film about an adoptee’s journey of self-discovery
Rebuilding
A film about the after effects of workplace bullying
The Power of Forgiveness
A film about bullying in childhood, inpatient treatment, and redemption
Coming Back to Myself
A film about inpatient treatment and reclaiming a sense of identity
My Discovery
A film about learning to live with Bipolar 2 Disorder
A Good Enough Parent
A film about managing negative emotions and breaking destructive parenting patterns to create a positive parenting relationship
Trigger warning: brief mention of suicidal thoughts
The Big Bang
A film about losing - and then regaining - custody of a young child and rebuilding life
The Little One
A film about exploring identity and how to express oneself when not seen or heard.
Trigger warning: mention of childhood trauma and suicidal thoughts
Moving On
A film about transitioning
to the community from secure mental health services.
The Lunatic Asylum
A film coproduced by the University of Oxford, Oxford Health Histories and ORC reflecting on the history of mental health treatment at the Warneford Hospital.
Mother of the Isles
A meditative piece inspired by Proust and the Hebridean Isles
Agoraphobia
A film about finding ways forward following agoraphobia as a young person.
Trigger warnings: isolation, panic.
The Bump
A film about struggling with the breakdown of a relationship whilst bringing up a young child.
Trigger warnings: child / parent in distress.
Barry the Degu
A metaphor for building relationships
Forgiveness
A film about acceptance and going forward after trauma.
Trigger warnings: abuse, anxiety.
Jon’s Recovery
A film about recovery after 32 years of severe mental health issues
Trigger warning: mention of abuse, drug use and hospitalisation
Persistence
A conversation about taking responsibility and moving forwards after prison.
Trigger warnings: incarceration, isolation.
Postnatal Depression
A film about taking small steps to manage postnatal depression
Breakdown
A film about recovery from burnout.
Trigger warnings: stress, loud music.
That's All Folks !
A film about managing anxiety
From Without to With Hope
Finding your new path in life after trauma.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse.
For the Invisible Ones
A film about emotional neglect in childhood and the journey towards healing and emotional resilience.
Trigger warning: brief mention of suicidal thoughts
My Life Isn't In Your Book
Student voices describe the positives of attending ORC
The Power Of Music
A film about a lifelong passion for music and recovery from workplace stress
The Situation
A film about looking for the right help when feeling lost and lonely
Finding Me
A film about finding new purpose and meaning after a mental health crisis.
The Moth
Using poetry in recovery.
One foot in front of the other
A film about managing Borderline Personality Disorder through friendship, faith and the Complex Needs service.
Learning To Be
A film about learning to be in the moment and using drawing in recovery.
New beginnings
A film about experiences of psychosis
If Only
Everything happens for a reason.
Journey through secure mental health hospital to recovery.
Recipe for Emotional Stability
A film about managing mental ill health at university
I Think We're Alone Now
A journey towards peace with oneself after hospital admission
ChagieRELLA
A film about gender identity, transformation, and courage
Why me?
A film about finding strength after abuse
Trigger warning: mentions sexual abuse
Sound of Silence
A film about coming to terms with hearing loss.
Butterfly
A film about coming to terms with a new way of life after challenges to both mental and physical health
ChagieRELLA
A film about gender identity, transformation, and courage
The Library
Each video story was created by a student or tutor of Oxfordshire Recovery College or the Forensic Recovery College. Each story is a journey and experience shared, in the hope that it can offer hope and strength to others who can be reassured that others have struggled too, and recovered. For information: libraryoflife@restore.org.uk.