Fall 2017

Software: Adobe Illustrator

An installation making mental health visible on campus and encouraging Penn students to be a support system for each other. Created in Advanced Graphic Design and Typography course with Professor David Comberg, installed 9/25/17 through 10/8/17.

Project statement:
In the last 5 years, we have lost 14 students to suicide.

With each passing, are we taking time to consider how to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again?

Every day, we ask each other, “How are you?” and are content with the mindless answer, “I’m good.” Are we asking that question out of habit or from a genuine curiosity to see how the other person is doing?

Depression isn’t obvious. But we should take the time to pause and recognize when someone around us is struggling with this invisible battle. Too often do these individuals go unnoticed—we must be more informed, attentive, and proactive about preventing this illness from taking another life. One in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental health disorder, yet the stigmatization of mental health inhibits us from having an open dialogue about an issue that affects so many communities around the nation. It is up to each one of us to remind ourselves of this invisibility and be more vigilant in caring for those around us.