Communicating mental health to University of Malta students

Abstract

This dissertation is a practical project in the form of a booklet that looks at the way mental health is communicated. This is a topic that is not often discussed, the present work gives it a platform. The booklet features expressive photography as well as advice and information relating to anxiety and depression. The contents of the publication are based on research on how to communicate through the medium of graphic design as well as through quantitative research using a survey targeting university students, as they would be the main audience for the publication. The survey identified that most university students have felt anxiety and depression.

An interview with a certified therapist provided insight on how to help those dealing with anxiety or depression and how someone experiencing either of the two would feel. This helped curate the images that feature prominently in the booklet, entitled Silent Suffocation; anxiety & depression an exploration and guide. The booklet showcases what living with these conditions could look and feel like, in the process communicating them visually. This is followed by specific advice that can be followed as a help to this.