Graphic Digital Design Year 4
Liz Murphy
The language we use around mental health
The topic of mental health has always been of interest, particularly how disorders are dealt
with and handled by professionals, family and support networks. The stigma associated with
psychiatric disorders and the dismissive treatment and lack of empathy often experienced by
those with psychiatric/psychological issues is the subject of this work.
The project centres on how the topic of mental health is generally talked about in a negative
way. Kinetic type with anonymous statements on mental illness from the public convey the
emotion. There is no soundtrack in this piece, nothing to distract from the experience. The
colour palette in black and white due to the metaphor of black and white thinking when it
comes to this topic. There is a splash of colour, blue and orange which are opposite on the
colour wheel and represent sadness and happiness.
The work is a campaign to raise awareness about the disparaging language often used in
addressing psychiatric illnesses and to make people mindful of their language.