“Humour can be one way of helping lessen the grip of even talking about mental illness”
Conzo Throb is one of three Scottish artists to produce an exclusive See Me print, inspired by the See Us movement to end mental health stigma and discrimination. Here, he shares his experiences and inspiration.
Mental health and the discussion of mental health can still be seen as something that should be swept under the rug. It’s simply a top priority to look out for ourselves and others if we want to be more at peace in the world with whatever situation or phase we are going through. Taking the right steps to self care or accepting help is needed at times should be normalised and encouraged that it’s cool to just check out and check in with yourself.
When I was approached to be a part of the See Us campaign, it’s quite rare to get the freedom to do what I’d love to do as well as being encouraged to bring humour to something that is a serious issue. Humour can be one way of helping lessen the grip of even talking about mental illness, especially around the stigma of it.
My print, Clear Out, is about stopping to clear out the non-serving bumf in the mind. The stuff that gives you anxiety, the stuff that makes you hold onto the unchangeable past, the stuff that tells you to not be confident and happy. We all, at some point, need to just stop, pause and rest from the never ending dodgems of life. Clear our heads and be in the now at a pace that works for us individually.
More people than we realise are going through something at different levels and it’s entirely possible to make positive changes happen through anything from reaching out to the right channels for what you’re going through. Talk to friends, self enquiry and listening to others in similar situations who have made it out of it or found a way of coping.
Conzo Throb has produced a limited run of Clear Out prints, with a portion of the profits going to See Me. You can purchase your print at conzo.co.uk.
