Jóna Holm Kristoffersen advocates for mental health awareness in Tórshavn

When asked how her struggles with mental health affect her daily life, 27-year-old Jóna Holm Kristoffersen from Tórshavn responded that it can be extremely difficult for her to focus on answering questions, as her thoughts often race faster than her hands can keep up. Currently studying at an art school in Holbæk, Denmark, Jóna was diagnosed with ADHD nearly three years ago, after experiencing compulsive behaviors since childhood that hinted at underlying issues.

Reflecting on her childhood, she recalls attempting to exert control over her environment through repeated actions, a means to cope with uncertainty. Now, Jóna emphasizes transparency about mental health challenges on her social media, especially on International Mental Health Day, sharing her own tough days and the complexities of mental illness.

“I chose to be open about my struggles to highlight that mental illness is not just black and white. A person can have both good and bad days, and can be neither entirely sick nor entirely healthy,” she explains.

Jóna’s struggles intensified when she moved to Copenhagen and started a new life away from the structured routine she was familiar with. This change led to overwhelming anxiety and depression, pushing her to withdraw and lose weight as her mental state deteriorated.

Ultimately returning to the Faroe Islands, she gathered the courage to seek psychological help, which initially proved challenging as her doctor struggled to see past her carefully maintained façade. After being misdiagnosed with depression, Jóna learned that her ADHD was the fundamental cause of her mental health struggles.

She believes there is a tendency to misdiagnose women with ADHD due to the lack of research in this area as compared to men. Jóna hopes that by speaking openly about her experiences, she can help shift the narrow perceptions of mental illness, fostering understanding and empathy in society.