PRESS RELEASE –
From the woman who brought the comics community #BlackComicsMonth and the upcoming Afrofuturistic Anthology, Tee “Vixen” Franklin brings some of comics’ biggest names into her latest endeavor, #EndTheStigma: A Mental Health Anthology.
Franklin has enlisted Gail Simone, Christina “Steenz” Stewart, Scott Snyder, Ma. Victoria Robado, Erica Schultz, Marguerite Bennett, and many more to share their personal stories all tackling the sensitive topic of mental health. With the prevalent shame attached to mental health, Franklin decided to put together an anthology to do her part by trying to #EndTheStigma and increase mental health awareness.
An Indiegogo campaign is set to launch on May 1st, 2017 for Mental Health Awareness Month. Franklin hopes to raise enough funds to help children and teens who suffer from mental illness. Proceeds from the crowdfunding campaign, minus fees, shipping, and printing costs, will go to NJ’s YCS (Youth Consultation Service) which “offers an array of nurturing therapeutic, and life skills teaching residences for children, teens and young adults with emotional/behavioral health challenges, developmental and intellectual disabilities.”
“This anthology is a passion project for me. As someone who has been living with mental illness for decades, I want people to know that they’re not alone.” Franklin says.
Margaret Stohl (Black Widow: Forever Red) has pledged her support to the project. “I am all about ditching the stigma of mental health. I’m here for whatever you need,” Stohl said.
Creator D.J. Kirkland (Black Mage), who is also contributing a story to the anthology, wants to show how he gets himself “out of bad spaces mentally.”
Statistics on mental illness are staggering as 1 in 4 people suffer from mental illness, and 1 in 30 suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Franklin’s goal is to help as many people she can through this anthology. With the help of her peers and colleagues, who also have stories to share, Franklin aims to reach readers and “hopefully strike a chord within themselves and seek help.”
#EndTheStigma: A Mental Health Anthology is also open to the public and will begin accepting submissions on September 30th through October 31st, 2016.
For more information about #EndTheStigma: A Mental Health Anthology, visit MentalHealthAnthology.com.
