Psychiatric Tales: Eleven Graphic Stories About Mental Illness, Darryl Cunningham, 2011
Courtesy National Library of Medicine
Darryl Cunningham’s graphic novel is based on his experiences working on a psychiatric ward while training to be a mental health nurse in England.
Psychiatric Tales contains 11 black and white illustrated vignettes about people suffering from mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, anti-social personality disorder, depression, and schizophrenia.
Hoping to foster empathy and reduce stigma, Cunningham illuminates the isolation, fear, and tumult people with mental illness face.
He also considers his own anxiety and depression after coming to the realization that he no longer wanted to be a mental health nurse. Ultimately, the book encourages people grappling with mental illness to use their talents and desires to help themselves cope.
For more information about mental health, visit MedlinePlus.
