Josh Engel creates online comics with several recurring characters that are cute and round animals. They have equally adorable names such as Baby Dog, Little Frog, and Buff Bear. In Engel’s comics, the recurring characters discuss their inner turmoil with each other. They help themselves and each other to reach a sense of mental acceptance, allowing them to lead a life with better mental strength and fortitude. These comics are meant to support people with their daily mental health struggles as they face the hustle and bustle and busyness of daily life—making the characters into people’s pocket friends that they can rely on for life advice. This is why Josh Engel’s comic books are relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health And Well-Being.
Engel has been making these online comics for well over five years. During this span of time, they have amassed over 85,000 followers on Instagram, Engel’s primary platform for sharing their comics. Their followers’ support, as seen in how they have also bought their merchandise and subscribed to their Patreon and Ko-Fi channels, shows just how impactful their comics are when it comes to helping their readers navigate their mental health struggles.
Mind, a British charity dedicated to supporting those struggling with their mental health, has charted that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England. However, only 1 in 6 people are likely to report, talk about, or actively seek out medical attention for their mental health struggles. Unlike other health issues, an apparent gap between those suffering and those receiving and seeking treatment can be observed. This is a phenomenon that rings true when it comes to mental health across the world, with factors such as stigma and lack of access to mental health care propelling it.
Comics made by Josh Engel, in which characters openly talk about their mental health struggles, help real-life people to speak out about their own struggles. Not only that, it also helps bystanders, friends, and families of those with mental health struggles to understand how to best approach the topic and provide the support that those who are struggling so desperately need.
Most important of all, when Baby Dog, Buff Bear, and Little Frog are not pouring their hearts out to one another, they also help each other to practice mindfulness. In one particular comic, this can be seen when Baby Dog and Little Frog are sitting out at a clearing together, watching the picturesque scenery before them. When Baby Dog asks if Little Frog would like to go back home, they reply by simply saying “No,” and they continue watching the vista, getting lost in it and fully embracing the moment. This is exactly what mindfulness is; it is a mental health practice that helps ground those struggling by asking them to focus on their surroundings instead of getting lost in their thoughts. Again, a proof of Engel’s commitment to helping their readers navigate their mental landscapes.
Find out more about comics by Josh Engel and their other initiatives by checking their Instagram on @obtuse_engel.