15 Instagram Accounts Using Illustrations To Talk About Mental Health
Follow these artists raising awareness of and reframing the narrative around mental health
The conversation around prioritizing mental health is slowly getting louder, but talking doesn’t come easy to everyone. For many creatives, their art is a powerful medium to share their own (and others') experiences and challenges as an alternative way of fighting the stigma.
When it comes to social media, the relationship with mental health is deeply complex; it's all too easy to feel the negative impact of scrolling through feeds of filtered pictures and carefully-curated life highlights. Despite this, there are many creatives sharing their art to build a different kind of community.
This World Mental Health Day (October 10), we take a look at ten artists on Instagram working to change the narrative around mental health, creating a safe space to share stories, discover accessible resources, and drive community support.
Click on the red headers to check out the Instagram profiles.
1. @sonaksha
As well as breaking down common misconceptions about various mental illnesses, queer Bengaluru-based illustrator and writer Sonaksha Iyengar’s striking illustrations also look at body image, disability, intersectional feminism, gender, sexuality, and more.
As part of their effort to create a safe space to talk about mental health, they use art to draw on their own experience of living with a mental illness, sharing steps from their own mental health journey - including the lows (like feeling frustrated and not seeing a beginning or end) and the highs (from learning to ask for help to finding a queer affirmative therapist).
Comic book artist Beth Evans has created a series of relatable illustrations exploring emotions and everyday life. Her signature doodles, that she calls “blobs”, navigate topics like anxiety, OCD, loneliness, eating disorders, financial stress, and more.
If you want to explore more of her art, she’s also published two books in which she delves into her daily experiences of adulting: I Really Didn’t Think This Through and Hi, Just A Quick Question. In the latter, she asks things like “How do I deal with feeling like I’m not measuring up to everyone else?” and “How do I handle people who don’t take mental health seriously?”.
Mental health illustrator and writer Kate Allan’s whimsical, nature-inspired illustrations deal with difficult topics while adding a bit of "sparkle" to your feed. Pairing cute animals with positive affirmations and meditations, through her art - also available in various books - she seeks to encourage self-love and support other people struggling with anxiety and depression.
Out to spread positive mental health awareness through their comics, The Sad Ghost Club aspires to give voice to its community of “ghosties” and explore the complexities of mental health. Following the ethos that “togetherness and acceptance are key to understanding our own mind,” the club seeks to validate people’s experiences with mental health issues and provide support to those struggling with their own mental health.
5. @kirzart
“Translating important issues into meaningful painting,” as she explains on her website, artist and mental health advocate Kirsty Latoya’s digital artworks capture her experiences living with depression and anxiety, alongside themes of identity and body positivity. As well as sharing her pieces via her Instagram, Kirsty sells prints online and has also written a book, Reflections of Me in which she pairs her paintings with poetry.
Creating art to make people feel less alone, comic artist and mental health activist Matilda Heindow grew up with what she describes “the weight of mental health stigma” on her shoulders. In a Ted X Talk, The Art of Mental Health Advocacy, she adds how she hopes to “peel away at those layers of internalized shame,” by building a community where people can talk about, relate to, and share their challenges with mental health. She also addresses societal stressors and advocates for accessible mental health care for all.
7. @yung_pueblo
Diego Perez (aka yung pueblo) writes thought-provoking and simple poetry offering insights and meditations on personal growth, inner happiness, managing emotions, developing healthy relationships, societal pressures, and prioritizing mental health, among other topics.
Add some feel-good feminist affirmations to your feed with Amsterdam-based South African Alison Rachel’s Recipes For Self Love. The artist’s illustrations (also turned into a book) aim to inspire and empower with daily messages that delve into self-expression, anxiety, body image, self-care, and lots more.
Working with artists all over the UK, London-based art collective Boys Don't Cry is putting male mental health at the center of the conversation. The collaborating artists explore the mental health impact of things like toxic masculinity, societal pressures of what it means to be a "man", body image, and substance abuse.
Driven by the impact of the pandemic, Stephanie Zito - a PhD student studying Educational and Counselling Psychology in Montreal - launched her mental health-focused Instagram platform @selfcarespotlight as a way of sharing captivating infographics and captions with free resources, tips, and self-care reminders. She also posts about her own mental health challenges in the hope of normalizing open conversation and asking for help.
11. @gemmacorrell
Gemma is an artist specialized in cartooning, writing, and illustrating. She has authored several books such as "A Pug’s Guide to Etiquette" (2013), "The Feminist Activity Book" (2015), and "The Worrier’s Guide to Life" (2015). Her style is simple and her illustrations are full of humor and wit.
Positively Present, initiated by Dani DiPirro in 2009, emerged from her desire to lead a more present life, a challenge given her self-described anxious and negative mindset. She uses bright colors and typography to transmit positive messages.
Maureen Wilson is the artist behind Introvert doodles. Throughout her life she thought she was weird because she was more shy. As time went on she realized that there was nothing wrong with being introverted. One way she has of expressing feelings is through her comic doodles.
14. @elesq
Elliana Esquivel, a self-taught artist from Charlotte, North Carolina, blends traditional and digital art to explore human psychology.
Mansi talks about topics such as mental health, love or emotions by drawing in a sketchbook. It is an Instragram account where you can spend time looking at amazing creations and reflecting on life.
Got more suggestions for creative Instagrammers changing the conversation around mental health? Share your favorites in the comments below.
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1 comment
egeldenhuys
Wonderful. I'm so glad there are artists who cover this topic.