Remarkable Lives: Chanell Cumber in conversation with Jerome Carson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Chanell Cumber. Design/methodology/approach – Chanell starts by giving a short account of her life. She is then interviewed by Jerome. Findings – Chanell witnessed years of domestic abuse from her father towards her mother. This led her to develop mental health problems at a young age. Her account reveals her struggles to recover. Research limitations/implications – While single case studies are just that, they offer us insights that are missing from many professional narratives. These can often allow us a unique window into peoples’ lives. Practical implications – Chanell points out the need for mental health services to have a more prolonged engagement with people who use services and outlines why this is important. Social implications – As a society we do not always reach out to quieter individuals who may go under “the radar.” Sometimes being more forward and offering people a chance to open up, may provide them with the opportunity to reveal the pressures they are under. Originality/value – Each person’s story is unique and gives us differing understandings of the struggles that people battle with and how they have overcome these