Let's Talk About It: A graphic guide to mental health

Created for middle and high school students, is designed to destigmatize the conversation around mental health addressing everything from stress to anxiety to addiction. The book also looks at how the brain affects behavior, shares ways to stay mentally healthy, and directs readers towards resources for those who need help. Although this project was underway prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for creative ways to interact with young people about their mental health is paramount at this time. In general, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years have diagnosed anxiety and 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years have diagnosed depression. “Research will tell you that when young people themselves gain an interest in solutions to problems that affect them and their peers, that is when you start to see meaningful change,” said John Aller, PCC, LICDC, executive director of Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (StarkMHAR) based in Ohio.  “This warm, encouraging, engaging, and valuable resource by Cartoonist Cara Bean offers concrete tips for dealing with stress, getting adequate sleep, facing substance abuse, building resilience, facing depression, addressing suicidal ideation, and reducing stigma around mental health issues. That’s an awful lot to pack into a short comic so I encourage everyone to read it again and again!” — MK Czerwiec, Will Eisner Applied Cartooning Fellow 2019