Humor is a powerful way to deal with the barbs of life. On its face, mental illness is nothing to laugh about, but illustrator Gemma Correll has used her biting wit as a coping mechanism for her own depression and anxiety. They take the form of relatable mental health comics and illustrations that allow us to commiserate with Correll, as well as many others who share her condition.
Statically, 1 in 13 people in the world suffer from anxiety, and depression affects an estimated 350 million people. Even if someone doesn't personally know what it’s like to feel the way that Correll depicts, it allows them to better understand the struggle.
By pointing out the perils of dealing with mental illness, Correll is also de-stigmatizing it. With her humorous, charming illustration style and clever one-liners, it’s no surprise that her work is very popular. As it goes viral online, people from around the world better know the dread of a phone call, excessive worrying about worrying, and the mental spiral that one negative comment can bring. Their presence also creates an open dialogue on brain health, and best of all, people realize that they aren’t alone in these feelings. “I think that it’s a lot more prevalent than people realize,” Correll told Mashable. “I know that I would have felt a little better as an anxiety-ridden teenager if I knew that I wasn’t completely alone in my fears.”
Gemma Correll’s charming mental health comics bring lightness to a dark place.
Gemma Correll: Website | Tumblr | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [Bored Panda]
