Holding On

Superhero

Gabe, GA

Hanging On

Savannah, KS

Inevitable?

Greyson, LA

I am Greyson, and I express the mess of my mind through art! This piece is an acrylic painting I did last month. I have dealt with depression and anxiety at least since middle school, which stemmed from my PTSD. I was very reserved due to lack of connection with my parents, particularly my mom. It was at this time repressed trauma from my childhood resurfaced, as well and gender and sexuality issues, and everything seem to crash around me. I attempted suicide various times, and scarred my body for my lifetime. However, I can now safely say I am recovering with my ups and downs! The piece expresses my past feeling of suicide looming over me like I had a time limit. But, I kept pushing forward, learning my selfworth and reasons to hold on to life overtime. It may feel like forever, and it's cliché, but I learned it does get better. It's the best decision I ever made -- to move forward.

Drowning

Julia, NH

Stop

Melody, NY

Struggle

Makayla, CA

Holding On To Hope

Lillian, NJ

Knit

Katelin, CO

Suffocation

Nevaeh, KS

This is a digital art I made a few months back. I was in a horrific spot in depression, and made this to try and explain it to my friend. I have several other voices in my head, including Zero, Cyrus, Itona, and Damien, just to name a few. This is supposed to try and show how even when I'm wanting to end it all, they're offering their hands, trying to comfort me and hold me together, whilst I'm tearing myself apart. The red on their fingernails shows that they are connected to me, as my hair is naturally red. The skin contrast is supposed to show how they are out far more than the real me, as normally when people go into the sun for long periods of time, their skin tends to be more tanned than pale. Lastly, the darkness surrounding the full thing symbolizes the depression, and how even in my darkest and most suicidal hours, when no one else will reach out to help me, my own inner voices are willing to put themselves through my darkness and try to hold me together, as though they're all telling me, to hold on, that I'll make it out alive.

Origins

Elsa, CO

Fake Reflection

Casey, MA

My name is Casey Duggan, 9th grade. The idea of this picture was too look at myself and try and find who I really am. Struggling with depression, anxiety, BPD, sensory processing disorder, and other mental illnesses is really hard. I am constantly fighting against suicidal thoughts and have forgotten who Casey is; who I am. All I see is a horrible person who doesn’t deserve life but deep down I know I do. Despite having an uphill battle everyday, I choose to keep going. To keep holding on. This photograph was developed during my school photography class.

Hopelessnes

Diana, FL

Holding Hands in Hope

Rachel, MI

Captured

Abby, IN

Holding On

Tearza, NM

The People Who Feel Too Much

Sophia, CT

Holding On

Katherine F, OH

This is a poem I wrote with the theme of holding on in mind. To me holding on means not quite knowing what to do because only you will understand and having to learn about yourself and how you can keep going in life. Holding on is about fighting the beast inside you that is anxiety, for me, and figuring out how to live a good life with it and always have hope that things will get better.

Elegy to What I Used to Be

Katherine S, FL

Spirits of the Past

Meghna, CA

Slam Your Suicide

Khamani, GA

A Way Out

Quinn, MA