Mental health has always been a struggle throughout my life. My diagnosis of Type One Diabetes in 2017 only elevated this existing issue, leading to BPD later in 2021. I appreciate that the pieces for this exhibition are required to not be distressing, but mental illness is distressing. Everyone seems to love supporting the mentally ill, until they show that they're not well.
This poem is about climate anxiety among young people, who are considered as a vulnerable population group in terms of mental health impacts of climate change.
Every day I woke up trying to be like my sisters. Prettier, more graceful, mature. Everything I wasn't and never could be. My grandmother told me that while my older sister was sitting on the stage on her wedding day she leaned over and whispered to
grandma 'You know how every generation has that gorgeous bride no one can compare to? That'll be her (me) and she (I) doesn't even know'
This digital piece was created in May while dealing with isolation. It shows a figure on the floor in a sparsely filled room. The objects around us are small comforts. At the time a collection of plants, and art were some of the small comforts I had. The dog face represents feelings of dysphoria, the animal visage symbolises that disconnect from the physical self, finding identity in art instead.
Thanks to the Grace of my God in Christ, I’ve conquered suicide, depression, crippling fear and as a rape Victim.
I’ve come out the other end, (yes covered in battle scars), but I won because of my God.
And now I celebrate these battle scars every day :)
Everything that I am today is because of what I’ve lived through.
xxx
I have seen brighter days... It is about people who have lost their joy in life and are prone to depression but are not letting themselves down... They are willing to fight to get their joy back
