At a London park, dozens of young people gathered, awaiting the starting signal, then screamed at the top of their voices − all in a bid to release tension.
So-called ‘scream therapy’ is a technique that is rapidly growing in popularity on TikTok and has made its way to Britain from the US.
“It was very therapeutic,” 23-year-old Rebekah Drakes said after screaming at the top of Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath, in the north of the British capital.
She, along with other participants mostly in their 20s, were taking part in a ‘Scream Club’ on Saturday.
“I feel like you don’t realise how much you’re holding in until you can let it all out,” the bartender added.
Mona Sharif organised the event after seeing on TikTok that people were gathering to scream together in the US.
“I feel like you don’t realise how much you’re holding in until you can let it all out”
“I made a TikTok saying that London should do one and from that video I created a group chat after I gained some traction and views and likes,” she said.
“A thousand people joined the group chat within three days,” she explained.
Sharif counted to three and then everyone let out a roar while filming themselves on their phones, much to the surprise of passersby.
Space to scream
“It’s kind of drawing from, like, group therapy,” she said.
In this case, “people are letting out frustrations that they can’t really talk about”.
Julia Dewit, a 29-year-old teacher, was pleased that so many women took part.
“There is sort of a stigma around women being told to sort of be calm and cool under pressure,” she said.
“I think that nowadays, talking about how we’re feeling and mental health is a lot more prominent than how it was in previous years, which is a really good thing.”
According to a YouGov survey published last month, two-thirds of young adults − aged 16-25 − in Britain are experiencing or have experienced mental health problems, particularly related to their studies or financial issues.
Before the collective shout, participants took turns climbing onto a bench, where they discussed their loneliness or struggle to find their place in society.
Some talked about what angered them in the news, to cheers from the crowd.
“If you’re in touch with, like, international political news, it’s very, like, devastating,” said 19-year-old student Rifa Uddin.
“I really need a space like this where people just, like, scream and go crazy.”