Launching An Instagram Channel Dedicated To Comics, Superheroes And Positive Mental Health

For those who’ve been reading The Comic Vault for a while, you’ll have seen that mental health is a major pill of the site’s content and was always intended to be a vital talking point from the start. By viewing mental health through the lens of comics and popular culture, I wanted to help destigmatise topics like anxiety, depression and suicide and normalise the conversation.

In 2020, finding a positive mental health routine has become even more important and through my own experiences this year it’s inspired me to want to combine mental health and comics in a new way and that has led to the creation of the Instagram channel A Superhero Mentality. 

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The Forgotten Ms Marvel: Accepting Yourself For Who You Are With Sharon Ventura

The superhero code name Ms Marvel carries a lot of weight in the Marvel Universe, symbolising the same level of responsibility as titles like Captain America or Captain Marvel. There’s a legacy of strong female characters taking up the mantle, which started with Carol Danvers and more recently passed to Kamala Khan. 

Sharon Ventura also went by the title of Ms Marvel and while she’s a lesser-known character she is deserving of the moniker. Ventura has been through a lot in her superhero career, dealing with the trauma of rape, low-self esteem, depression and body dysmorphia. The story of the forgotten Ms Marvel deserves to be told.

Superhero Mentality: Thor

Poor mental health is an experience that everyone has gone through at some point in their life. Even superheroes and gods aren’t immune to feelings of doubt and low self-esteem, with Thor being a prime example. The God of Thunder has battled depression, unworthiness and a loss of identity, highlighting that even the most powerful characters need to find coping mechanisms to restore their sense of self-belief.

Superhero Mentality focuses on positive mental health habits that different characters use as part of their daily routine and Thor’s approach combines a mixture of fitness, socialising and respect for his heritage.

Guest Post: Mental Health Depicted In Current Television

Current television’s role in mass media carries considerable clout when it comes to informing and shaping public perceptions. Characters portrayed on the screen can quickly become stereotypes when certain themes keep repeating from show to show. Unfortunately, this appears to be the case with current television’s depiction of mental illness.

10 Comics That Told Inspiring Mental Health Stories

In the modern age, mental health has become as important as physical health. People all over the world are discussing disorders like anxiety and how it can affect everyday life. And with the debate comes a duty to break down stigma so more people feel comfortable talking about their experiences.

Storytelling is an effective way of presenting mental health in a relatable way. Stories inspire us. They introduce us to characters who’ve been through similar situations and have managed to overcome adversity.
Comics are a wonderful medium for mental health positivity. They show readers that even the mightiest of superheroes like Thor and Captain Marvel can be vulnerable. It’s humbling to see such powerful characters be brought down to earth and made to deal with the same problems that humans face on a regular basis.

Seeing a superhero overcome their mental health struggles is inspiring. Readers witness their own journey reflected back at them and it might encourage them to make a positive change in their life.

Various comic book stories have covered issues as heartbreaking as depression and suicide. But by the end of the story, there’s always a ray of hope. After reading one of these stories, you’ll be reminded that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

The God Of Self-Worth: Thor And Depression

Mental health is a complex topic that affects people on different levels. While some are happy to talk about their struggles with disorders like anxiety, others continue to suffer in silence for fear of being perceived as weak. Within the world of comics, humans aren’t the only beings to suffer with their mental health. Gods are just as vulnerable, and even the mighty Thor has fallen victim to thoughts of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

The God of Thunder’s quest to improve his mental health has been the source of many recent Thor stories. Having lost the ability to wield Mjolnir and then fighting to prove his worthiness again, Thor’s struggles are relatable when filtered through the lens of emotional vulnerability.

Superhero Mentality: Speedball

Coping with a mental health disorder can be one of the most difficult experiences of a person’s life. Conditions like anxiety and bipolar disorder may prevent someone from living to the fullest. One of the most liberating steps is the realisation that you aren’t alone and that it’s okay to share how you’re feeling with like-minded people.

Superheroes like Speedball understand the power of finding a routine that helps to manage a mental health condition. A sufferer of self-harm and low self-esteem, Robbie Baldwin has experienced more trauma that anyone his age should have to face. Read on to discover his coping mechanisms in the latest edition of Superhero Mentality.

Why Is Balder One Of The Most Relatable Asgardians?

Thor is one of the most recognisable Marvel characters, but the Asgardian pantheon contains some of the most diverse characters in the Marvel Universe. Balder, the God of Light, is an Asgardian who deserves more mainstream attention. One of Asgard’s most powerful warriors, Balder has helped Thor deal with a variety of threats against their home and his backstory is worth exploring in greater detail.

Guest Post: The Mental Health Benefits of Reading Comics

There has been plenty of discussion recently about mental health and how it impacts people. Everyone is always looking for ways to improve their mental health, whether they want to cheer up, help their kids grow, or just to entertain themselves. Comic books may be a good solution to all of those problems. Why? Find out!

Mister Freeze And The Debilitating Effects Of Complex Bereavement Disorder

When it comes to exploring supervillain motivations, mental illness is often flagged as a contributing factor. While there’s an argument to be made that some villains can genuinely suffer from a mental health disorder, others simply enjoy killing and being evil for the sake of it. Mister Freeze falls into the first category. A sufferer of complex bereavement disorder (CBD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression, Mister Freeze has one of the most realistic mental health trauma stories in popular culture.