Decades before mental health became mainstream British cartoonist, writer and illustrator Gemma Correll has given voice to issues such as anxiety and depression through her witty yet punchy comic strips. 

Her struggle with anxiety and depression is now public knowledge. But back when the Aquarian artist was growing up in rainy East Anglia (England), talking about one’s mental health was taboo. Despite this, she “felt somehow compelled” to start drawing “little stories” at five years old, both as a distraction from her anxieties and as a way to connect with her schoolmates. Today the comic strips she draws are inspired by and culled from her treasure trove of personal sketchbooks and journals.

"Drawing helps to clear my head, to reflect on and clarify my thoughts, feelings and ideas. [...] I love being able to articulate my thoughts in ways that I struggle to verbally. I create the comics I wish I could have read growing up," Gemma wrote in an editorial for The Lily in 2021. 

Gemma keeps it real by combining light-hearted humour, self-deprecation and mettle in all her work. And by real I mean she doesn’t preach, judge or psychoanalyse. The content of the short comics she shares are snippets from her everyday personal life. Some may find it quirky but to her 949,000+ Instagram followers (me included) they are comfortably relatable, even healing. Sometimes I find myself blurting, “OMG that hits the spot!” Seriously. 

“When I first posted these kinds of comics online, mental health was very rarely spoken about, especially in the comics world, using any kind of humor. Making the drawings felt like a kind of therapy to me and after sharing a couple on social media, not expecting much of a response (and even worrying that they would upset people) I noticed that my followers responded to the comics about mental health very strongly and overwhelmingly positive,” she shared with boredpanda.com. “When I have been unable to vocalize my feelings or problems to a doctor or therapist, I have always written them down. Sometimes I might be crying too much to choke out the words, or I might just not be able to articulate them. Writing and drawing are great therapeutic tools.”

Her published works include The Worrier’s Guide to Life, A Pug’s Guide to Etiquette, The Feminist Activity Book and It’s A Pug’s Life. Gemma resides in California with her husband, the collage artist Anthony Zinonos, and their rescued pugs. Her furry friends are frequently seen in her work, proving their positive impact on her. 

“Drawing and writing have been an important part of my life since I first picked up a crayon and scribbled on the wall of my childhood bedroom (sorry, Mum!). Making comics and art is something I would do even if it wasn’t my job. At the risk of sounding a teensy bit overdramatic: Without drawing, I’m not sure who I would be, where I would be, or how on earth I would cope with life and everything that comes with it,” Gemma wrote for The Washington Post (August 2021).

Gemma’s comics appear on The Nib and Tinyview Comics. Her collaboration with charities included Mental Health America and the Red Cross. She counts among her influencers Lynda Barry, Matt Groening, Mimi Pond the old Disney cartoons. 

Among her works my personal favourites are The Worrier’s Guide To Life, A Map of Procrastination, Pasta Shapes for the Depressed and The Stay-At-Home Fairy Tales series. 

You don’t have to be afflicted with anxiety and/or depression to appreciate Gemma’s work, some of which are shared here. Her distinct illustrative depiction of what it’s like living with mental health debility mirrors the struggles that shadow her.

Debbie | ws

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