Mosaic is five: Here’s four ways we’ve made a difference
We look back over our archive of stories to find out what impact Mosaic has had so far.
1. From teens in Iceland to Planet Youth
In January 2017, Mosaic published its most successful story to date — Emma Young’s piece about a radical and hugely successful programme to combat teenage smoking, drinking and drug abuse. Two years on, when she caught up with Jón Sigfússon and Inga Dóra Sigfúsdóttir, the two researchers leading the programme, Jón says: “Believe me, now the world is listening.”
Read more about the impact this story has had on researchers, families and young people in over 24 countries… and counting!
2. Dysphagia: Giving breath to the issue
When researching his 2016 piece on swallowing disorders, Bryn Nelson was told by a doctor that having dysphagia is like being constantly waterboarded.
In this follow-up story, he hears from some of the patients featured in his story and from others who have found practical help and support from the article.
Bryn writes: “People with dysphagia have told me over and over that most doctors know very little. ‘In my experience, many physicians have no clue about things like this,’ says Jim Stith, who recently contacted me from Chicago to share his story of having dysphagia. ‘I know more about swallowing today than they do.’
3. Post-partum psychosis: Let’s not feel shame
One of Mosaic’s most personal, moving and meaningful pieces was written by Catherine Carver, about her experiences of post-partum psychosis. We caught up with her and friend Hannah Bissett, nearly two years on.
Publishing her story was terrifying, Catherine says, but the process of writing it she found cathartic. “It helped me… to bring some order to what had been a rollercoaster, a spider diagram sort of craziness. It also involved remembering… trying to remember things which I hadn’t been doing, because I didn’t really want to. I didn’t want to open that can of worms. “But it also felt like, I think, empowering is the right word.”
Read the highlights of their conversation here.
4. Surgery in Mongolia: The machines that save lives
Jane Feinmann reported from Mongolia in 2017 on how devices called pulse oximeters are making anaesthesia and surgery safer in rural Mongolia and beyond.
On her return she was inspired by her trip so much that she began to fundraise for more medical equipment for communities in need. Her efforts continue today.
Find out about the impact of Jane and her story here.
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