Enrolled and Anxious

• Victoria Simons, Visual Communications, University of Delaware

• Bill Starkey, Art & Design, University of Delaware

Students entering college have to adjust to various experiences and interactions with others, but everyone does not have the same mentality going into these situations. Mental health has become a prominent focus in society, but the specifications of various mental health disorders are misinterpreted to those who do not understand the emotions behind the person. Additionally, many people are afraid to start the conversation due to the fear of the unknown, which is why this topic needs to be discussed more. My research compiles more insight into the thoughts and feelings behind various mental health disorders, using the DSM 5 files, hospital pamphlets, and multiple online sources. Throughout this research, I focused on breaking down various mental health disorders to bring light to the many symptoms, responses, and triggers individuals may come across in college. Based on the information gathered, I created a zine to bring awareness to the mental battles one may be facing, compiling information and graphics into one digestible space. The zine also captures imagery and graphics to help represent a specific situation and the mentality of individuals involved. It is important to better understand the mental circumstances of others, in order to help prepare oneself for a number of situations. Having this zine can be a tool for incoming college students to provide insight into people they may come across and increase humanity in higher education.