Mental health care appears to be more accessible and accepted than ever before. Recent research shows that one in eight U.S. adults now takes an antidepressant, and one in five has recently received some kind of mental health support. This marks an increase of almost 15 million people in treatment since 2002. Between 2019 and 2022 alone, the use of mental health services jumped by almost 40% among U.S. adults with commercial insurance, according to a study in JAMA Health Forum.
This shift is largely due to the growing awareness and normalization of conversations surrounding emotional well-being. Shawna, the creator of ‘Memes For Mental Health,’ is one of those people taking part to this important dialogue. Bored Panda got in touch with her to learn more about what inspired her to start this Instagram account.
“I created this page in 2018 when I was hospitalized in a six-week inpatient/outpatient program after a mental breakdown,” Shawna candidly told us. “I had been struggling with PTSD and undiagnosed borderline personality disorder since I was 11 years old. In the hospital, I was officially diagnosed with PTSD, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. I started this page because I knew no one who had BPD and I needed a safe space to be my whole self.”
“Having BPD means I sometimes mask my personality or behavior to maintain friendships and relationships,” Shawna explained. “Creating [this Instagram account] has allowed me to vent through memes and connect with like-minded people who understand my struggles. Running the page has given me an amazing sense of community, but it’s also been an eye-opener to how stigmatized BPD is.”
“This page truly saved my life,” said Shawna. “Being able to express my feelings anonymously—at the beginning, I was anonymous—and interact with people who understood me was a lifeline. I want to thank everyone in this community who relates to my experiences. I’m sorry that you relate, but I’m right there with you.”
Shawna’s journey has been guided by “spirituality, medication, therapy, community, and love.” Yet, she recognizes that the road isn’t always smooth. “I recently had a relapse a few months ago and ended up in the hospital after trying to take my own life,” she shared. “Healing isn’t linear, and relapses happen. The important part is that we get back up after the fall.”
Shawna’s Instagram account is part of a larger trend of online spaces dedicated to sharing uplifting memes. Recent research has shown that memes can indeed help alleviate symptoms of mental health issues and offer a creative outlet for expressing difficult emotions.
Bored Panda spoke with psychologist Sabina Nazarova to get her take on this. “Humor is a fantastic tool for mental health, it can help us not take things too seriously and allows us to laugh together,” she explained. “However, relying solely on humor or memes can be risky. It might indicate avoidance of deeper issues and prevent proper healing. Balance is key—use humor, but also seek other ways to maintain your mental well-being.”
Although social media has significantly advanced mental health advocacy, some misconceptions still linger. Nazarova notes that nowadays there’s a strong societal emphasis on independence and self-reliance, especially among younger generations, who are often seen as more individualistic than previous ones.
“This can create a barrier around needing help, as many feel pressured to appear strong and self-sufficient. It’s essential to recognize that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that community and social support play vital roles in mental well-being.”
“Certain mental health conditions, like narcissistic and borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia, still face considerable stigma. We need to work on that.”
Nazarova observes that many of us seek intervention only when our situations reach a crisis point. “People often turn to help when their relationships, academic life, or career are affected, or when they have physical symptoms. However, our bodies and minds give us constant signs through behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and physical changes, as well as performance issues,” she said. “When these changes become hard to handle alone, it’s time to seek support. You can turn to community resources or simply visit a local clinic and register with a family doctor.”
