Mental Health Humor and Cartoons

Tribute to Mental Health Stigma

I live with Bipolar Disorder, classified as a serious mental illness but getting the right diagnosis can be the joke.  There are so many labels out there that if you search the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  (DSM-IV) long enough you will be able to find one that suits you.

Even with such a high number of people with so many disorders classified as a mental deficiency, does that mean the sufferer should not be recognized? Even if, to others, the “type” of disorder my seem frivolous, there is a real need for help!! To the sufferer, the need is overwhelming and must be met!!  

Stigma perpetuated by this type of thinking is why many people don’t seek help in the first place.

“Stigma leads to isolation, and discourages people from seeking the treatment they need. Political leaders, health care professionals, and all Americans must understand and send this message: Mental disability is not a scandal; it is an illness. And like physical illness, it is treatable, especially when treatment comes early.” - President’s New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health - April 29, 2002

It takes “strength beyond what is normal” for a person to admit there is a problem and that they need help!  With so many factors against them and their own self- doubt telling them… “HEY, there is nothing wrong!  You just needs some rest!”

Some times the signs of depression, bipolar disorder or the mental health issues can be very hard for others to see.  Let alone understand.

So over coming our first major obstacle is the key to getting the help we might need.

What is that obstacle? YOU ARE!

Because of the inner fear we might have due to the stigmatic beliefs we have about mental health, could prevent us from the next step.  We need to admit to ourselves that we want, no need help.

By just looking at the statistics on what gender has the most mental issues, you would  find there are more women receiving different types of psychosocial therapy (seeing some one or on meds, ect.) If you are a guy reading this and shaking your head up and down saying “I knew that women are nuts!”  You are so wrong!  Women are smart enough to recognize there is not only a need for help but actually go and get it!

Still the ugly stigmatic thought many people think about when you say mental illness is people who are violent and want to kill, kill, kill.  People who should be locked away and forgotten and not allowed to be around others.

This is not the real case at all.  Mental health effects all type,s with no one class of people effected more.  Don’t let the fear and stigma of the label “mental illness” stop you from getting help.

In our next post we will look at the different types of help that is available.

 Last week I wrote a post on how I’m drawing caricatures and trading products on the traffic building network EntreCard.
Well one thing I was offering was a sheet of Elvis 29 cent stamps and the owner of the network Gram bought one sheet. I was just laughing at this video because on the table is what else??? My stamps! Now here is the funny thing. I have taken excellent care the stamps. When I mailed them I made sure to protect this collectors item. I have had them for about 5 years and the sheet value is about $60.00. Listen to what he is planning to do… Oh… well… The more sheets that get used the better the collectors values is. But after getting the great YouTube / Entrecard exposure from Gram I thought I should put another Sheet of Elvis stamps up to trade .

These are real stamps with a face value of $11.60 US. But that was back in 1993. The 2008 Scott value on the Elvis Presley 29c stamp is listed $1.50 or $60.00 a sheet. Not to mention the add collectible of the many Elvis fans… You know who you are… Every fan should have at least one stamp.

So I come up with the number of 20000 trade credits base on it real collectors value.  If it was not for the new market I would not even offer them for trade.

This is a great market to collect trade credits.  I will turn around and use the credits to get my ad on lots of other blogs.  By doing that I will increase my traffic and have some fun too.

If you don’t know what the Entrecard Market here is a little video for that too.

MentalHealthhumor.today.com By: Chato B Stewart

Mental Health Humor:

Oscar night or a shrinks paradise?

Caption:

I don’t want your autograph! I want to you sign your admittance papers.

Title:

 Oscar night or a shrinks paradise?

What can I say, I’m watching the Oscars and I’m looking around as they pan the audience I can’t help but think to my self what each actors mental diagnosis is.

They just gave the Oscar to Heath Ledger for the 2009 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.  I was thinking about his death by mixing meds.

I guess the reality is we are all a bit of a star and we are all a bit crazy.   Just some of have the privilege to say were certifiable.

Chato

Dr. Bob Bob, Meds, Suicide, Bipolar, Chato, Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Mixed Bag

Thanks for dropping by:

Chato B. Stewart
Mental Health Advocate - Cartoonist - and a few other things!
http://www.mentalhealthhumor.com

“Using Humor to Heal and Educate with badly drawn cartoons.”

If you liked this, please subscribe to my RSS feed and/or email feed .

MentalHealthhumor.today.com By: Chato B Stewart

Mental Health Humor:

My Blog changed From The Depression Category to It’s Rightful Mental Health Category.  It feels like I just changed meds!

Winter, Spring, summer and fall no matter where you are things change.  Some times we are the architect and other times it’s like we are on auto pilot.   Well there have been some big changes over the last few months with this blog.  We have gone from a daily cartoon post to posting just a few a week.  Some with new cartoons.  Mostly the post about the other art I’m doing and learning.  I just wanted make sure that every one understands the mission of this blog has not changed!  It is to help other towards recovery.  We just try to use humor as our venue.

For the last seven months our blog was listed under the category “Depression”.  At the time that was the best one to list us under.  Even though we focus on all different disorders.  Well, I’m happy to announce that as of now we are listed in the category “Mental Health”.

This is where we truly belong and it has also opened the door to many new people coming to the blog.  So I just want to welcome every one.

You will find that I’m not going to be getting too much into defining every disorder and don’t expect to hear the latest new pill or theory on dealing with every mental illness.  I’m not qualified to even presume I know enough to teach you a think or two…  No, my goal is to look at the humor that makes up our disorders.  I do this with cartoons that I draw about different things that effect us as “consumers”.  Some times I will draw from my own life and add some commentary about the subject with links that will make the point.

Over the next few weeks I’m going to go set up a schedule  and try to post at least 3 new cartoons each week.

We are coming up on my first year anniversary since my “hospital vacation”.  I think it’s time for me to ink, draw and scan the actual cartoons that got the Mental Health Humor blog all started.

So I want to thank every one who has stuck with me and I want to welcome all the new readers.

Chato

Dr. Bob Bob, Meds, Suicide, Bipolar, Chato, Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Mixed Bag

Thanks for dropping by:

Chato B. Stewart
Mental Health Advocate - Cartoonist - and a few other things!
http://www.mentalhealthhumor.com

“Using Humor to Heal and Educate with badly drawn cartoons.”

If you liked this, please subscribe to my RSS feed and/or email feed .

MentalHealthhumor.today.com By: Chato B Stewart

Mental Health Humor

Mental Health Humor:

MEET MY READERS! Win a FREE Caricature!

For balance and coping skills, I use art.  The cartoons have been a spring board to so many positive things.  I want you to meet some more of my readers!  The first 9 caricartures I did were in color… I was not ready!  They are not too bad, but I had not learned how to build color yet.  So I went back to black and white.

Few weeks back, I posted how I was taking an art class with the 83 year old Grand Master Portrait Artist.  His Name is Murray Postell and has worked for Fortune 500, Presidents and many famous people… Not to drop a few names, but here goes… Frank, Ross and Bob.

Well, to pay for my classes, I thought I would teach myself how to do caricatures and go down the park or events and do them.  To date, I’ve done 15!  On the Traffic network Entrecard, I have been able to trade credits for them.  I use the credits to buy advertisements for my blog… I even bought my son some comic books and my girl some jewelery with it in the NEW market place they set up.

I still need work and advice… I know we have a lot of talented people reading my blog.  I want to tap into that and ask you guys for some tips to improve.

Mr. Postell, he has me learning the basics of oils.  He will not teach me cartooning yet  until I know the basics then everything else is just scribbles.  Still, I want to get good enough that I can make the money I need to buy all the supplies for the class…

Well, here is my deal, everyone that leaves a comment below will be entered to win a free digital caricature. (Note:  all drawings and photos will be displayed on my blog. )

If you don’t want to wait and you have Entrecard, just order one.

Chato

Dr. Bob Bob, Meds, Suicide, Bipolar, Chato, Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Mixed Bag

Thanks for dropping by:

Chato B. Stewart
Mental Health Advocate - Cartoonist - and a few other things!
http://www.mentalhealthhumor.com

“Using Humor to Heal and Educate with badly drawn cartoons.”

If you liked this, please subscribe to my RSS feed and/or email feed .