14 Adorable Illustrations That I Drew To Enlighten People About Mental Health Statistics
I am a 29-year-old mental health advocate and artist living in Phoenix. I make comics and products to help people feel less alone.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, I did 14 beautiful drawings about important statistics surrounding mental problems. I wanted to raise awareness with my unique art about the reality of how many people are affected by mental illness so that they are more informed and to help them feel less alone.
Some of these statistics are shockingly high, and I learned a lot about mental issues and all the resources out there for people like me, who are struggling with depression and anxiety.
If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, here is a helpline where you can reach out.
Facts are from the following sources: Nami, The National Coalition for the Homeless, Mentalhealth, Activeminds, Independent, The US Department of Veterans Affairs, and thetrevorproject.
More info: Instagram
Fact #1
Just Peachy started as a daily drawing journal in early 2017. I wanted to get back into art and was in a dark place mentally. I just started creating around what I was feeling and learning through suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction. I started sharing on Instagram to keep me motivated because I really thrive on feedback from others.
Fact #2
Fact #3
Fact #4
I am very lucky because I get so many positive responses from people. Everyone is very supportive, and a lot of people reach out to me thanking me for sharing my struggles. Many people are dealing with mental health issues so I think a lot of people really relate to my comics.
Fact #5
Fact #6
Fact #7
Fact #8
The most challenging part of the creative process for me is actually sitting down and making a comic. I have a full-time job, so sometimes I struggle to find the time and motivation to actually sit for 2-3 hours and make a comic. I also find Instagrams new expectations for how often we are “supposed” to post absolutely insane, so I just don’t keep up with that.
Fact #9
Fact #10
Fact #11
Fact #12
Fact #13
Fact #14
I am still really saddened by the fact that up to 40% of trans people attempt suicide in their life. I think that is a real problem that can be solved by raising awareness and acceptance about trans folks.
I will repeat that if you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, here is a helpline where you can reach out.
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What if we treated normal illnesses like mental illnesses? “Im getting sick of this ‘cancer’ of yours.” “Maybe if you ignore the polio, it will go away on its own!” “Ugh, people who are diseased are just faking it for attention.” We need to treat mental illnesses the right way!
I had to use that comparison with my dad for him to take it seriously.
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These are so cute! But more importantly, the facts matter. Mental health should be just as important as your eyes or teeth.
I think it's censored for people who get easily triggered by the word
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Nice illustrations. I hope readers realize about fact #4 that people with severe mental illness are more likely to become homeless and not that if youre homeless youre more likely to get a severe mental illness.
Yes, too many statistics get the cause-effect listed the wrong way round!
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1. thanks for sharing this with us! important facts and great art style. 2. bored panda, you really ought to consider NOT censoring the word suicide. all you're going to do is confuse people who can't figure out what you're censoring. instead, maybe add a trigger warning before any article that mentions suicide? just a thought.
I really identify with the one about Alexithymia. I didn't know there was a name for it.
I still struggle with it when my therapist asks "how does that make you feel?"
Load More Replies...
I know this will be eye opening for many people. Having empathy is wonderful, but being able to understand facts like these can make it easier to help and accept someone who is living with mental illness. I hope it also helps people with mental illness to understand their own illness. I wish that more help was available and accessible.
I identify with a few of these. I've struggled with my mental health since I was 3, at 20 I was homeless because of it and I was forced to drop out if Uni. Glad to say that I got housing and managed to finish my degree in four years, plus a post-grad. I still struggle every day, especially as I now have a chronic pain condition too and my son was diagnosed with autism 6 months ago. My husband is amazing and took voluntary severance from his job when our son was a baby and now we work part time self employed. You have to learn to live with and despite your illness and to take inpatient care when needed.
Ok so I've struggled with mental health disorders all my life and this was really interesting. But the way that the last slide is painted, depicting 2 trans adults, I thought it was beautiful that the woman, although she was blue (used to be a man), she had both pink clothes on AND a pink flower. The man was a direct opposite. I loved that idea of not only are they the gender they express on the outside, but that's how they are on the inside.
These illustrations are an excellent way to publicize the statistics on mental illness. Even after years of mental health awareness campaigns, too many people suffer in silence. However, while NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) may have the correct statistics, it receives NEARLY 75% OF ITS DONATIONS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, as the New York Times reported last year: https://psychcentral.com/blog/nami-nearly-75-percent-of-funding-from-pharma/ Psych meds are over-prescribed for people who do not need them, e.g. folks who are depressed due to events in their lives. While many people with severe mental illnesses do need medications, they do not get enough information about dangerous “side effects” or alternative treatments. Here is another page about psycho-pharmaceutical front groups: https://www.cchrint.org/issues/psycho-pharmaceutical-front-groups/ I encourage anyone seeking help to do their own research; I know some of these groups are better than others.
Mental illness has an awful stigma. People still believe the myths and stereotypes of "crazy" people. In the final analysis, we're all mentally ill. We're all on the spectra for depression, OCD, autism, ADHD, you name it.
No...we’re not. That idiotic thinking is exactly why people with actual mental issues don’t get help. Your normalizing something that is anything but normal.
Load More Replies...
Die. Suicide. Why even bother publishing articles on heavy topics if you're just going to censor them? This is a good and necessary conversation for people to have! It can help mentally ill people feel less alone to know others deal with the same problems and feelings and urges! Black-boxing the words just makes it feel shameful, like people should just keep their mouths shut. Your overly-broad censorship is doing the opposite of what it's supposed to. Trust your readers to have discernment.
I feel like fact #2 is thanks to the cost, rather than the person being afraid to seek health (as it can be in other countries)
I'm very scared #3 applies to me. I've definitely developed some issues and it's not getting better. It's just getting worse.
as someone with maladaptive daydreaming, severe depression and anxiety, this struck a cord with me. also, learned about alexithymia today and if i have it, it explains A LOT
Man, this is really eye-opening. I struggle with anxiety and ADHD and I’ve been told by teachers that I’m just lazy. It hurts. I’m publicly out as agender, but my parents aren’t very accepting and I’ve certainly considered committing fork-in-outlet before… misgendering is a real problem.
being an individual that has had my anxiety and depression from around the age of 5, and not having anyone in my family care that my lack to do things isn't laziness, but truly my mind giving up, I can relate to all of these facts. I also just happen to be part of the lgbtq+ community and living in a household that doesn't accept me and can say that I have tried way too many times. and sh doesn't always show up in the form of scars but can be the simple act of not eating, popping knuckles or any joint, and other harmful grooming habits. I'm not comfortable with putting my exact age but I'm anywhere between 13 - 25. I really don't know if this is a cry for help or me just wanting people to help others cause I really believe I'm too far gone to get help
Here we are highlighting the challenges faced by those who have mental health issues, we are trying to normalise talking about our mental health but BP has censored ‘die’, ‘died’ and ‘suicide’. These are the correct terms, they are the reality of severe mental health problems, stop censoring them.
As one who has and still suffers from mental illness, you don't grow out of it. It's not a choice. You can't make it go away. The struggle is real. You need medical attention and support by those who love and care for you. When family or friends tell me how awful I am or to shake it off or that they just can't handle me, I quote to them Marilyn Monroe. "If you can't handle me at my worst, you dont deserve me at my best." I'm not sure what Monroe meant by this statement but I find it to be very fitting to those who seem to want to be around only on my good days. Sometimes those can be far and between. Thanks for sharing this. We need to raise more awareness and people need to educate themselves about mental illness and disabilities. Lots of love and hugs to all that suffer and support ❤
As someone with experience, I think not saying the word “suicide” is more dangerous than covering it up. We need to talk about it and confront it.
Too many numbers for me to follow, but I get what they're saying. General, but I get it. I was hoping for more specific facts about different disorders and disabilities.
Can someone explain the math in fact #3 to me? Half + three quarters used to be 125%..?
The '75 % of chronic mental illness that developes by age 24' is including the '50% of chronic mental illness developing before age 14' not in addition to it. So for chronic mental illness, 50% developes before age 14, (75%-50% = 25%) developes between age 14 and age 24, and (100% - 75% = 25%) is first seen after age 24.
Load More Replies...
The artist also does suffer from mental health issues. They explicitly said "I learned a lot about mental health and all the resources out there for people like me, who are struggling with depression and anxiety."
Load More Replies...
Mental illnesses are not moronic labels but important diagnoses that help people receive the kind of specific help that is needed for their specific mental illness
Load More Replies... What if we treated normal illnesses like mental illnesses? “Im getting sick of this ‘cancer’ of yours.” “Maybe if you ignore the polio, it will go away on its own!” “Ugh, people who are diseased are just faking it for attention.” We need to treat mental illnesses the right way!
I had to use that comparison with my dad for him to take it seriously.
Load More Replies... These are so cute! But more importantly, the facts matter. Mental health should be just as important as your eyes or teeth.
I think it's censored for people who get easily triggered by the word
Load More Replies... Nice illustrations. I hope readers realize about fact #4 that people with severe mental illness are more likely to become homeless and not that if youre homeless youre more likely to get a severe mental illness.
Yes, too many statistics get the cause-effect listed the wrong way round!
Load More Replies... 1. thanks for sharing this with us! important facts and great art style. 2. bored panda, you really ought to consider NOT censoring the word suicide. all you're going to do is confuse people who can't figure out what you're censoring. instead, maybe add a trigger warning before any article that mentions suicide? just a thought.
I really identify with the one about Alexithymia. I didn't know there was a name for it.
I still struggle with it when my therapist asks "how does that make you feel?"
Load More Replies... I know this will be eye opening for many people. Having empathy is wonderful, but being able to understand facts like these can make it easier to help and accept someone who is living with mental illness. I hope it also helps people with mental illness to understand their own illness. I wish that more help was available and accessible.
I identify with a few of these. I've struggled with my mental health since I was 3, at 20 I was homeless because of it and I was forced to drop out if Uni. Glad to say that I got housing and managed to finish my degree in four years, plus a post-grad. I still struggle every day, especially as I now have a chronic pain condition too and my son was diagnosed with autism 6 months ago. My husband is amazing and took voluntary severance from his job when our son was a baby and now we work part time self employed. You have to learn to live with and despite your illness and to take inpatient care when needed.
Ok so I've struggled with mental health disorders all my life and this was really interesting. But the way that the last slide is painted, depicting 2 trans adults, I thought it was beautiful that the woman, although she was blue (used to be a man), she had both pink clothes on AND a pink flower. The man was a direct opposite. I loved that idea of not only are they the gender they express on the outside, but that's how they are on the inside.
These illustrations are an excellent way to publicize the statistics on mental illness. Even after years of mental health awareness campaigns, too many people suffer in silence. However, while NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) may have the correct statistics, it receives NEARLY 75% OF ITS DONATIONS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, as the New York Times reported last year: https://psychcentral.com/blog/nami-nearly-75-percent-of-funding-from-pharma/ Psych meds are over-prescribed for people who do not need them, e.g. folks who are depressed due to events in their lives. While many people with severe mental illnesses do need medications, they do not get enough information about dangerous “side effects” or alternative treatments. Here is another page about psycho-pharmaceutical front groups: https://www.cchrint.org/issues/psycho-pharmaceutical-front-groups/ I encourage anyone seeking help to do their own research; I know some of these groups are better than others.
Mental illness has an awful stigma. People still believe the myths and stereotypes of "crazy" people. In the final analysis, we're all mentally ill. We're all on the spectra for depression, OCD, autism, ADHD, you name it.
No...we’re not. That idiotic thinking is exactly why people with actual mental issues don’t get help. Your normalizing something that is anything but normal.
Load More Replies... Die. Suicide. Why even bother publishing articles on heavy topics if you're just going to censor them? This is a good and necessary conversation for people to have! It can help mentally ill people feel less alone to know others deal with the same problems and feelings and urges! Black-boxing the words just makes it feel shameful, like people should just keep their mouths shut. Your overly-broad censorship is doing the opposite of what it's supposed to. Trust your readers to have discernment.
I feel like fact #2 is thanks to the cost, rather than the person being afraid to seek health (as it can be in other countries)
I'm very scared #3 applies to me. I've definitely developed some issues and it's not getting better. It's just getting worse.
as someone with maladaptive daydreaming, severe depression and anxiety, this struck a cord with me. also, learned about alexithymia today and if i have it, it explains A LOT
Man, this is really eye-opening. I struggle with anxiety and ADHD and I’ve been told by teachers that I’m just lazy. It hurts. I’m publicly out as agender, but my parents aren’t very accepting and I’ve certainly considered committing fork-in-outlet before… misgendering is a real problem.
being an individual that has had my anxiety and depression from around the age of 5, and not having anyone in my family care that my lack to do things isn't laziness, but truly my mind giving up, I can relate to all of these facts. I also just happen to be part of the lgbtq+ community and living in a household that doesn't accept me and can say that I have tried way too many times. and sh doesn't always show up in the form of scars but can be the simple act of not eating, popping knuckles or any joint, and other harmful grooming habits. I'm not comfortable with putting my exact age but I'm anywhere between 13 - 25. I really don't know if this is a cry for help or me just wanting people to help others cause I really believe I'm too far gone to get help
Here we are highlighting the challenges faced by those who have mental health issues, we are trying to normalise talking about our mental health but BP has censored ‘die’, ‘died’ and ‘suicide’. These are the correct terms, they are the reality of severe mental health problems, stop censoring them.
As one who has and still suffers from mental illness, you don't grow out of it. It's not a choice. You can't make it go away. The struggle is real. You need medical attention and support by those who love and care for you. When family or friends tell me how awful I am or to shake it off or that they just can't handle me, I quote to them Marilyn Monroe. "If you can't handle me at my worst, you dont deserve me at my best." I'm not sure what Monroe meant by this statement but I find it to be very fitting to those who seem to want to be around only on my good days. Sometimes those can be far and between. Thanks for sharing this. We need to raise more awareness and people need to educate themselves about mental illness and disabilities. Lots of love and hugs to all that suffer and support ❤
As someone with experience, I think not saying the word “suicide” is more dangerous than covering it up. We need to talk about it and confront it.
Too many numbers for me to follow, but I get what they're saying. General, but I get it. I was hoping for more specific facts about different disorders and disabilities.
Can someone explain the math in fact #3 to me? Half + three quarters used to be 125%..?
The '75 % of chronic mental illness that developes by age 24' is including the '50% of chronic mental illness developing before age 14' not in addition to it. So for chronic mental illness, 50% developes before age 14, (75%-50% = 25%) developes between age 14 and age 24, and (100% - 75% = 25%) is first seen after age 24.
Load More Replies... The artist also does suffer from mental health issues. They explicitly said "I learned a lot about mental health and all the resources out there for people like me, who are struggling with depression and anxiety."
Load More Replies... Mental illnesses are not moronic labels but important diagnoses that help people receive the kind of specific help that is needed for their specific mental illness
Load More Replies...
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