It’s no secret that those of us suffering from depression often feel alone and with nowhere to turn for support. While some of us have friends or family who we can call when feeling depressed, we may not always want to ask for help or even have the energy to pick up the phone and reach out.
While Instagram and other social media sites are not a replacement for seeking therapy or having a real-life support system, they can offer us support when we at our lowest, and can provide us with a community of people to remind us that we are not alone, even in our darkest moments.
[Related: 7 Ways Social Media Can Benefit Mental Health]
So, with that in mind, here a few Instagram accounts to follow that may help you feel less alone if you suffer from depression:
Make Daisy Chains
Courtesy of @makedaisychains Instagram
Hannah Daisy, the artist and illustrator behind @makedaisychains, wants you to know that you are not alone in your mental health journey and that there is no one right way to work on your mental health. Her colorful illustrations cover topics such as anxiety, depression, LGBTQ rights, and the importance of self-care.
Yung Pueblo
If you love seeing simple yet poignant poetic words in your Instagram feed, look no further. @Yung_pueblo is a poet who writes about mental health and the importance of being kind to yourself in your healing process. The images are clean, simple, refreshing breaths of fresh air in your social media feed.
Notes From Your Therapist
The account @notesfromyourtherapist offers bits of insight and advice from a Marriage and Family Therapist, posting images of intimate hand-written notes that feel as if they are written just for you. These notes focus on trauma, relationships, and the importance of knowing and respecting your own boundaries, and are wonderful daily reminders for self-care.
Ask Dr. Jess
Jessica Clemons is the psychiatrist behind the Instagram account @askdrjess. Her account focuses on eliminating the stigma of black mental health and the detrimental effects of racism on mental health. She also uses her account to host live Q&A sessions where she answers questions about topics such as anger, trauma, forgiveness, and goal-setting, to name a few.
The Sad Ghost Club
As stated in their Instagram bio, @theofficialsadghostclub aims to “raise positive mental health awareness through comics and community.” This account uses comics and drawings to normalize depression, reminding its community members that it’s ok not to be ok.
A Safe Place Inside Your Head
Image courtesy of @asafeplaceinsideyourhead Instagram
The account @asafeplaceinsideyourhead uses memes to talk about difficult subjects such as mania, the effects of trauma, social anxiety, and symptoms of depression, using humor to normalize the effects of mental illness.
The Depression Project
Image courtesy of @realdepressionproject Instagram
The account @realdepressionproject focuses on providing information about depression and other mental illness in the form of easy-to-read graphics. Each post on their Instagram asks users to comment with their own experiences around depression, inviting open conversation and creating an online community around depression awareness.
Quotes by Christie
Image courtesy of @quotesbychristie Instagram
If what you’re looking for are some colorful, positive quotes scattered into your Instagram feed to make your day a bit brighter, @quotesbychristie is the account for you. While this account is not directly geared towards combatting depression or mental illness, the quotes are focused on general wellness and self-care, providing a ray of light for those feeling down.
Brene Brown
Image courtesy of @brenebrown Instagram
You may be familiar with Brene Brown from her viral 2013 Ted Talk on The Power of Vulnerability. A research professor who studies courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, Brown uses her Instagram account @brenebrown to share uplifting and inspiring content about mental health, vulnerability, and social justice.
Lets Talk About Mental Health
Image courtesy of @letstalkaboutmentalhealth Instagram
Not only does @letstalkaboutmentalhealth feature some extremely colorful and aesthetically pleasing graphics with daily reminders that normalize depression and healing, the Instagram also links to a website where people share stories about their own mental health journeys.
Resources
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
https://greatist.com/grow/resources-when-you-can-not-afford-therapy#mental-health-apps