【Deborah Driggs Archives】

One illustrator is Deborah Driggs Archivesusing the alphabet to send a powerful message about mental health.

Bangalore-based artist Sonaksha Iyengar has launched a series of gorgeous illustrations on Instagram called #AtoZofMentalHealth, through which she depicts conditions like anxiety, PTSD and narcolepsy. The 22-year-old hopes her art will spread awareness about mental illness, and tackle stigma in the process.

With each artistic interpretation of a condition or disorder, Iyengar includes an empowering phrase, like, "PTSD is not a sign of weakness" and "Bipolar disorder is not the same as a tantrum."

"It is time to have honest conversations with each other about the importance of mental health," she said. "There's some kind of comfort in knowing that there's someone else who is at least making an attempt to understand how you feel."

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The series is Iyengar's contribution to #36DaysofType, a project challenging designers and illustrators to create their own takes on letters and numbers throughout a 36-day period. She created her own theme, choosing to connect each letter to one mental health condition or disorder.

#36DaysofType runs Feb. 21 to March 28, with artists uploading one illustrated letter or number each day.

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Iyengar, who lives with various mental health conditions, has often hinted at stigma and awareness in her work. Through this series, however, she's tackling mental illness head-on for the first time.

"Sometimes it can be hard to describe the chaos the brain feels — whether it is a bundle of emotions or a mental disorder," she said. "I want everyone to know that they are not alone and that their struggle is acknowledged, whether it is someone who battles their mental health every day or a caregiver watching someone go through it."

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Through #AtoZofMentalHealth, Iyengar hopes conversations around mental illness become more accessible and less intimidating. She said the innate power of art creates space for this conversation — the first step in destroying stigma.

"Art breaks silence with colors and lines and visuals, which can be so powerful," she said. "If we address stigma through art, we'll be able to cut through the silence and stop the social exclusion."