This one is really great. We should realize that depression is also a social and historical phenomenon – and quite complex, being an effect of various different forces whether it is racism, sexism or simply normalization and discipline of our desires and wishes. Those desires are themselves partially a product of culture and depression is a site where contradictions of culture become apparent. I think the problem with how we are dealing with depression is that at we are too caught in (neo)liberal values where an individual or his body is responsible for their fate, but also those that are fighting for depressed are too resentful of existing conceptions instead of trying to produce alternatives to how we think about it. We shouldn’t just seek consolation but produce a world where depression isn’t something that blocks life, but something that can be overcome through invention of new ways of approaching life.
To those that are also suffering from depression: be critical of reasons for your depression, realizing that they are not part of your “personality”, but part of wider morals that society tries to force. Clinical interpretation of depression is not that productive since it only tries to fix the symptoms.
Thank you for this comic. I read your other, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE is what I go through because I’m a black who’s depressed. And honestly, I prefer POC therapists because of what is shown in this comic.
as a black woman, some of the things in the comic reflected my life to a tee and it floored me. i love your diverse take on depression, and being aware of intersectionality – i hope you keep going with this project.
There was a newspaper article recently that said that in the town I live in, social workers had “given up” on male black youths because they were “already beyond saving”. What about them made social workers think they were beyond saving? The fact that they were male and black, nothing else. Ugh.
Clay, you are the best representative for depressed individuals on the internet.
Seconded.
Ouch. D:
Indeed, you’ve told my story and many of my friends. The story in this strip is extremely important! Thank you!
🙁
Wow.
Tragic.
This one is really great. We should realize that depression is also a social and historical phenomenon – and quite complex, being an effect of various different forces whether it is racism, sexism or simply normalization and discipline of our desires and wishes. Those desires are themselves partially a product of culture and depression is a site where contradictions of culture become apparent.
I think the problem with how we are dealing with depression is that at we are too caught in (neo)liberal values where an individual or his body is responsible for their fate, but also those that are fighting for depressed are too resentful of existing conceptions instead of trying to produce alternatives to how we think about it.
We shouldn’t just seek consolation but produce a world where depression isn’t something that blocks life, but something that can be overcome through invention of new ways of approaching life.
To those that are also suffering from depression: be critical of reasons for your depression, realizing that they are not part of your “personality”, but part of wider morals that society tries to force. Clinical interpretation of depression is not that productive since it only tries to fix the symptoms.
Gods that’s sad…
Therapist = The Rapist
Clay, if I ever meet you, you are getting a hug. Thank you for your work. So. Much.
this strip should be better known around the world. your work is great
Thank you for this comic. I read your other, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE is what I go through because I’m a black who’s depressed. And honestly, I prefer POC therapists because of what is shown in this comic.
as a black woman, some of the things in the comic reflected my life to a tee and it floored me. i love your diverse take on depression, and being aware of intersectionality – i hope you keep going with this project.
199 http://t.co/4DjgCfGW9K via @depressioncomix
this though http://t.co/1GRJiSailA
Damn this was real
There was a newspaper article recently that said that in the town I live in, social workers had “given up” on male black youths because they were “already beyond saving”. What about them made social workers think they were beyond saving? The fact that they were male and black, nothing else. Ugh.