“In My Own Way”: Comic Project on Mental Health and Substance Awareness
Wednesday 3 December 2024
9:00
Institut Pla de les Moreres (Vilanova del Camí)
The comic project “In My Own Way” was created based on a real-life story, in which the author recounts a family member’s experience to raise awareness about the effects of substance use on mental health. This initiative, born from a collaboration between Primary Care of ICS Anoia and the Department of Education, aims to educate adolescents aged 14–16 on the connection between drugs and mental illness, offering tools to reflect on their beliefs and attitudes.
The project combines art as a transformative medium with pedagogy, producing educational materials that include the comic, a learning guide with visual and pedagogical resources, and direct interaction between the author and students. The pilot implementation took place at the Institut Pla de les Moreres in Vilanova del Camí (from 12 March to 25 April 2024), including various sessions: comic reading and discussion, meeting the author, myth-busting activities, role-playing exercises, and creating posters with positive messages on mental health and addiction.
The impact has been highly positive for both students and teaching/health teams, highlighting the power of artistic language to connect with young people and encourage critical thinking. Currently, the comic is being digitized into an interactive video format in collaboration with the Igualada City Council to expand its reach and usefulness in new educational contexts. Results suggest the potential to extend the project to other secondary schools in Anoia, consolidating a model that unites art, health, and education to promote prevention and emotional well-being.
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