Subtle Yet Powerful – Artist Uses Paperclips To Depict Mental Disorders

Mental disorders are also known as invisible illness and that’s all the more reason we need to talk about them. In an initiative to spread more awareness about mental disorders, an artist, Eisen Bernardo created a campaign called #KeepItTogther using paperclips to describe the state of a patient suffering from mental disorders. 

“This is my version of the more popular ( ; ) mark. A paper clip is a very simple innovation. It is just a twisted metal but it can keep things together (not permanently though, but still). I even had a paper clip tattoo to remind myself every day that “I should keep things together”. For me, it symbolizes life more because it has a starting point and an endpoint. There is also a direction of movement that can depict how people live their lives. Can be from outside going in, or being in touch with what is inside and slowly discovering the world outside,” the artist wrote on his blog. 

Here’s what the campaign looks like:

1. Anxiety 

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

2. Depression

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

3. Eating Disorder

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

4. Dissociative Identity Disorder

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

6. Bipolar Disorder

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

7. Substance Abuse

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

8. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Eisen Bernardo – Keep It Together

We need to talk more about mental health because it’s just as real as any other physical disease. While there’s a stigma attached to these mental disorders, people like Eisen Bernardo are doing their bit to change this. We need to recognize these disorders and be empathetic towards people who suffer from them. We might not all be doctors but there’s still a lot we can do. Do your bit, will you?