The Inspiration Behind Double Minority Hanna: A Story of Bullying and Mental Health

 

So, everyone, get ready! I'm about to release my novel titled Double Minority Hanna. It tells the story of a fifteen-year-old girl diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia as she tries to solve her problems and become a better person.

Many of you already familiar with my journey know that this novel is rooted in my personal experiences, with some parts inspired by the shared struggles of my mental health community. You can read my testimony about my first diagnosis of schizophrenia here

The Beginning

My own story begins with being bullied in primary school, even though I attended a Christian school. Despite the environment, bullying was still rampant. I wasn't bullied as badly as Hanna, but it was enough to leave a mark. The bullying I experienced was mostly due to my appearance. My great-grandmother was from Holland, and my European features set me apart from most Indonesians.

Things worsened when my peers realized that the teachers treated me differently. Although I stayed in the same school until high school, I never fit in. I was never a popular girl, and people thought I was strange, and later, violent—like the stereotypes often associated with mental illness in Indonesia.

When Bullying Led to Self-Doubt and Depression

School was especially tough between the ages of 13 and 18, a time when most teens wanted to hang out with friends. For me, it was a period of isolation. I felt like I didn’t belong, which only deepened my self-doubt. I started to wonder if I was truly antisocial, and if only “weird” people could ever understand me.

Eventually, this doubt and isolation triggered hallucinations, a struggle I still deal with today. Writing fiction became my escape because, in fiction, I could create a world where I was the hero. Over time, my hallucinations worsened. I even preferred the imaginary world to reality, as it offered the acceptance I couldn’t find from my peers. But when my hallucinations started affecting my studies, my parents stepped in. They sought help, and I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia by a psychiatrist—who happened to be a friend of my father.

Bullying and Mental Illness

As someone who was bullied and isolated, I never had the desire to bully others. I understand the deep emotional scars it leaves behind. I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on anyone, not even my worst enemies.

Back when I was diagnosed, information about mental illness was scarce. You had to be fluent in English just to access most of the available resources. That’s why I believe it’s so important to discuss bullying and mental illness—both in my story and in Double Minority Hanna. Bullying can have long-term effects, both on the victim and potentially the bully as well.

I hope more Indonesian writers and mental health professionals contribute to the conversation by publishing resources on bullying and mental illness. The stigma that people with mental illnesses are "violent" or "weird" only isolates them further. By sharing more knowledge, we can slowly start to change these harmful misconceptions.

Conclusion

I want to remind anyone going through similar struggles that mental illness can be managed. It’s not a sin or something to be ashamed of. As long as you take your medication and keep working on self-improvement, you can make your mark in society—just like I’m doing by publishing Double Minority Hanna.

Stay tuned for the release!  here is the link  Thank you for your support!


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