I am so excited and proud to start off this AtoZChallenge with the work of none other than that of my amazing cousin, Sonaksha. I still remember the day she was born, and her big round eyes! Now, she has metamorphosized into an adult with multiple talents: a writer, an artist, even a book illustrator. This post features her recent artwork in the field of mental health, which has already been covered by various publications including Huffpost, Buzzfeed and the likes(yes, she is famous, I am just encroaching a bit on her moment of glory).
Mental health, unlike physical health, is hardly spoken about and understood even less. There is a huge taboo surrounding it and very little information. A couple of years back, for a period of time, I was under depression. Though depression is something a lot of people go through, it was still very difficult for people around me to understand. “No one gets it”, that is how I felt. It is obviously even worse with other mental health problems, which most people can’t get their head around. It is important there is a space created to talk about it, to facilitate those who need help to be able to get it without prejudice. It should be as simple as going to a doctor when we have a fever. That is why conversations such as those initiated like by Sonaksha are so relevant and important.
She decided it was high time someone spoke up, and if not her then who? She gets her message across through social channels through a combination of art and words. She posts every day about the various challenges, assumptions, and words flung at people suffering from mental illnesses with an aim to educate people by busting various myths around it. Here is some of her work as part of the series.
To learn more about mental health, do visit her Facebook page.
I know Sonshu since earlier. And she’s quite talented indeed. 🙂 The artwork is amazing, and thought provoking, and I’ll definitely tell her that right away.
Yes she is really talented! Do let her know Vinay:)
Nice artwork. Your cousin is on an important mission. Mental disorders are still such a mystery. My youngest brother has been under care for schizophrenia for over 40 years now. It’s a sad situation.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Your cousin has taken up a worthy cause. Interesting artwork. Kudos to her and all the very best for her initiative.
Awareness re mental health issues is lacking, not just for women but also men. Labelling everything as ‘insanity’ or ‘unstable’ does not help. All mental health problems are not the same.
Happy A-Zing,
Nilanjana
From Madly-in-Verse
Theme : Arabiana
Those illustrations are amazing – you can feel the emotion in them. Well done to your sister (and you) for sharing these!
Debbie
As a depression survivor, this is beautiful for me to read! What a talented cousin you have to be sure. This is important work and I hope, especially now with the Indian govt taking an active step towards recognition of mental illness, this will be groundbreaking in so many ways.
Such an awesome artwork. Your cousin is so talented. With you theme, you are going to bring a lot of awareness and I will be around. This is a subject that people still shy away from and time has come to change all that.
I have struggled with a lot of mental health issues all my life and still am, this came as such a breath of fresh air.looking forward to this.
http://poojasharmarao.blogspot.in/2017/04/a-atwood-margaret-inspirational-writers.html
Your cousin is a brilliant artist! More power to people like her who bring in a change in the society.
Your cousin has surely taken up a great cause. Mental health is the most neglected in our country and it requires to be spoken about.
I love your graphics….and yes mental health is not to be spoken about in whispers. it is as real as a cough and cold
These images are beautiful. And the theme is something is very very relevant iun today’s world. Mental health is just not discussed enough and especially, not enough outlets exist for those suffering from it to find relief without facing stigma.
http://www.godyears.net/2017/04/alex-ruiz-is-shining-example-of.html
Those are some amazingly beautiful artworks. And they certainly need a wider audience. Kudos to your cousin for doing her bit in bringing awareness for this neglected and stigmatized illness!
It warms my heart to see an artist taking up a social cause, instead of just fooling around with an Instagram account and hunting for a few followers! Using your talent to make a difference is superawesome. Do tell your cousin that I loved the artwork 🙂
More power to you both! I had come across this artwork on buzzfeed, and I’m so glad people are speaking on the issues of mental health!
Aditi
Thats an wonderful and eye catching artwork….Topics like mental health needs to be given more importance in our country which is the need of the hour.Launching SIM Organics Shortly
*Menaka Bharathi*
*SimpleIndianMom*
Awesome penned on mental disorder
Amazing images.
Stopping by from A-Z Link List! I write an addiction blog. Many don’t realize that there is a connection between mental illness and drug addiction. Loved your post today and the artwork.
Very cool artwork and message. She’s very talented.
https://stacybuckeye.com/2017/04/01/a-book-vs-movie-agatha-christies-and-then-there-were-none/#comments
Such gorgeous art, and I am glad that more and more people are speaking up and making mental health less of a stigma
What a wonderful form of expression! The one on insomnia was especially powerful for me.
A is for… abortion/Parenting in the Wilderness
Gosh! This is brilliant! Kudos to your cousin for the brilliant work she is doing! Thanks to you for sharing with us 🙂
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You have a very talented cousin! Each artwork you shared in this post speaks so much about it! Mental health is something that needs to be discussed as freely as people discuss the lifestyle diseases with much pride. My MIL was a schizophrenia patient and my hubby a Bi-Polar patient, so I know how much help people with mental disorders need and how less people come out to speak about it or seek help.
Kudos to your cousin and to you for sharing your thoughts through words and art, here on this blog!
Art is a wonderful way to express these issues but help people unlock the chains holding them back.
Excellent.
Looking forward to reading more as A to Z goes forward!
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Powerful artwork. The one for insomnia resonated well with me. Kudos to your cousin and very generous of you to use this opportunity to spread awareness about the mental disorders through your cousins work.
Awareness for mental health is a wonderful theme, and a wonderful way to add positive information. Sonaksha’s work that you included with your post is wonderful. Thank you for sharing, and I look forward to reading B – Z!
A for Anatomy
Shari
So glad to have found you – and your cousin. Advocacy comes in so many forms and this one is beautiful! My theme this month (and always) is advocacy for adults with Down syndrome. Intellectual disability is another misunderstood minority. Good luck going forward!
Great Cause. I have gone through the same, thou then I didn’t knew it was an illness. People have to be made aware of their mental health and it’s condition.
Wowww… Each of the artwork is so powerful and brilliantly done. She is immensely talented and I am so glad you shared her amazing art. Very impressive work.
Woww!!! This was such a beauty! I loved the way Sonaksha has depicted every aspect so perfectly!
More power to her! And to you for showcasing on your blog!
Cheers
BoisterousBee
This is amazing! Loved her work and her initiative 🙂
thank you for sharing these images to kickstart discussion of a very important and misunderstood topic
The privilege is mine:)
The more we speak about Mental health , the more people would be able to accept it and not try to find solutions or cures of it .. your cousin is so talented and she’s using what she has to really contribute to a cause she feels strongly about . I am so incredibly proud to get to know of her work and her passion through you !
I really like your theme – it has so much potential and it is so needed that we talk about ‘Women and their work ‘ . More power to you Namy!!
Thank you so much Chandni:) I am thankful for all your advocacy:)
Thought provoking artwork – I just loved it and thank you for sharing something so important and relevant. You are right no one gets depression and any mention of wanting to see a shrink, get ppl up in a tizzy. I remember that dialogue from Dear Zindagi where SRK says its ok to talk about going to a kidney doc but a mental doc- Oh no, that one is whispered about and kept hidden!
Kudos to your cousin for such an incredible portfolio of works.
I am so happy I stumbled on this post Namy! -More power to you
Theme: Peregrination Chronicles (travel)
C is for ChaiJaai café Srinagar #atozchallenge
There is such a huge prejudice against going to the doctor for your mental illnesses! Especially in India. People even think that some are faking it and ask them to “Get over it”.
More power to you Namy for bringing up this powerful work to notice.
Thanks Pooja:)
That is some wonderful work and what a thoughtful and not to mention, much needed initiative. We women go through enough already!
Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you:)
Great going dear!
Thanks aarushi