Project lead: Jo Lockwood

The Art of Mental Stealth: A Comic Approach is about creating a vibrant space filled with visual storytelling to rethink how we design, deliver, and approach mental health messaging and support. 

Imagine a city-wide conversation where comics, graphic novels, illustrations, and zines meet mental health research and  interventions to explore the potential of creating and creativity. 

On July 25th, a dynamic mix of educators, artists, academics, community organisations, and young people gathered at City as Lab for a Kickstarter event. This was a celebration of creativity, comics, and mental health research, filled with conversation and partnership-building. 

Here’s a snapshot: 

• FLASH talks: We showcased existing work that merges mental health and art across the city, featuring speakers from our FE and HE institutions, community organisations, illustrators, multimedia artists, and young people. 

• Inspiration from New York: We chatted with comics writer Ethan Sacks and his daughter Naomi, who shared their beautifully illustrated, 4-issue graphic horror mini-series inspired by Naomi’s battles with depression and suicidality. 

• Creative pause: We took a low-tech break to explore how colour, shape, and space can simply convey mood. 

• Key questions: Our questions included, “Is there something worth exploring together around comics and graphic novels for supporting mental health in Nottingham?” (Spoiler – the answer was a resounding YES!) 

The event was brought to life by the artwork of talented young artist Fran, who created our programme materials, posters, and postcards. Our exhibition of project artworks remains on display. And all was captured by the animation and creative studio Woven Ink, who are busy creating a digital and printed rich picture poster documenting our work and discussions. We’ll showcase this at our next event at the Institute of Mental Health next year. 

Inspired? Our network established at the event is growing. Register to join the conversation and start creative collaborations across the city.