Sophy Mariam is a self-taught comic book artist and illustrator who tells stories of anthropomorphic animal characters such as cats, raccoons, and pigeons who are extending kindness and love to each other. For Mariam, these two things when combined with patience and care, can help a person struggling from mental illnesses to heal. This is why her comic book characters are often portrayed navigating different mental illnesses.
A fox can be found ruminating their anxiety, while a cat could be struggling to perform at work while battling their depression. One thing remains constant in her comics, they always conclude with these characters managing to find some form of support, kindness and love, to help ease their pain. By doing so, these comic books are also helping her audiences navigate similar circumstances in their daily lives, especially by seeking out support from peers that can provide them with love and kindness. This is why the kind animal comics by Sophy Mariam are relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health And Well-Being.
Another way that Mariam’s work is able to support those struggling with their mental health, is by affirming their experiences. In one recent instance, she does this by drawing a mouse-like character that says it does not wish to hang out. When sharing the piece on social media, Mariam includes the caption “Mental health is complicated and isolation is understandable.” Comics like this means that even if people struggling with their mental health are unable to find an immediate support system, Mariam’s work themselves can act as a small form of support that can validate and understand their experiences.
Sophy Mariam’s kind animal comics offer a compassionate lens into the struggles of mental health through relatable anthropomorphic characters and narratives centered on kindness and love. By portraying animals navigating anxiety, depression and other challenges, Mariam affirms the complexities of mental health while demonstrating the healing power of patience, care and supportive relationships. Her work not only helps audiences feel seen and validated but also inspires acts of everyday kindness, fostering a sense of community and understanding. Through these heartfelt stories, Mariam’s comics serve as a gentle reminder that support, no matter how small, can profoundly impact someone’s journey to healing.
Find out more about kind animal comics and other initiatives by Sophy Mariam on her website www.sophymariam.art or Instagram @sophy_mariam.