‘Let it Out’: Magazines Intertwining Mental Health and Journalism in Egypt
From endless to-do lists and overloaded schedules, to struggling to find stillness on busy days, going through the motions of life often feels like an uphill climb: overwhelming and exhausting, barely catching your breath. In the midst of chaos, finding solace in journaling is one way to cope when the weight of the world becomes overwhelming.
A study conducted in 2006published in the National Library of Medicine, revealed that journaling is equally effective as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing the risk of depression in young adults. Other research She also points out that journaling about traumatic or difficult experiences can have a measurable impact on a person’s overall well-being.
Born out of a desire to help people through the power of journaling, ‘Let it Out’ is the first Egyptian mental health-led magazine that seeks to make a difference to people’s overall well-being by allowing them to vent their thoughts and feelings.
Karla Meleka, the 22-year-old founder and creator of ‘Let it Out,’ saw an opportunity to help people grow and evolve, and so she developed journals that come in different forms: the self-love kit, the 80-day self-love journal, the mindfulness journal, and a special edition Ramadan kit. Meleka says that as a psychology student at the British University of Egypt, she came up with the idea when she fully understood the importance of the link between journaling and mental health, and how rare journaling is in Egypt.
“I started researching a variety of topics to include in the magazine. It took me months trying to find the best layout and flow for them, because I wanted the depth of the journals to produce the best possible results,” explains Meleka.
One of Meleka’s goals was to destigmatize journaling and mental health, which included practical and tangible means of improving your mental well-being. the American Psychological Association stressed that expressive writing can reduce intrusive and avoidant thoughts, leading to better working memory.
“I wanted to develop guided journals as it is one of the most effective ways to practice self-expression. Unlike other ways to reach people, journaling is the only tool that takes you on a personal journey from day to day. Draw a map of your life that you can always come back to to see the beauty of growth every day,” says Meleka.
After spending a year navigating and questioning the root causes of the struggle facing a generation of young adults, I wanted to address the importance of letting out frustration in the most effective way. On her website, the three different magazines, dedicated to different purposes, are available.
In the ’80 Days of Self-Love Diary’, which costs EGP 250 (USD 13), people embark on an 80-day journey of self-exploration to meet their inner selves. The magazine targets different categories, such as emotional checkups, mental checkups, self-love, self-talk, and reflection sections.
Another magazine is ’30 Days of Mindfulness’, it costs EGP 200 (USD 11), and it aims to help people understand how their feelings are formed and how to control them as well. This journal is divided into four weeks exploring different areas including mind mapping, learning to practice healthy self-talk, gratitude, and goal setting pages.
Before the magazines came to life in 2021, Meleka explains that she was challenged and undermined because many people didn’t understand the purpose of the magazines. For most, Meleka explains, diaries are nothing more than a bunch of notes in booklet form. However, bridging journaling and mental health was a top priority for Meleka, and raising awareness of mental health is what kept her diligent in executing on her vision.
Creating ‘Let it Out’ was a learning curve for Meleka. She had the project in mind since high school, but was only able to pull it off lately. It has been a rewarding experience not only to see her idea come to life, but also to see people get excited about writing more and more diaries every day.
“My goal is to make ‘Let it Out’ a place that people can always come back to, a safe space that can help people release their stream of consciousness and emotions in a concrete way,” adds Meleka.
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