Well Aware: You spoke, we listened
Mental Health Awareness Month may have come and gone, but our mental health issues still remain. So what to do about them?
Conversations on feelings of inadequacy, toxic workplace culture, and the dreaded but all-too-present Imposter Syndrome have been known to take place within the design community. Stemming from the 2018 AIGA Chicago Town Hall, we saw and heard your interest in continued dialogue — out in the open, sans-stigma and louder than a whisper. This is why we created Well Aware, launching the program with a survey — to which an astounding 235 of you responded.
Lo and behold, with this first act of self-love and love for the design community, we already don’t feel as alone in these feelings and experiences, which we’re finding to be every day, okay and altogether human.
The results
It seems a large majority of us are well aware of our need to feel valued and respected, have struggled with an emotionally unsupportive workplace and withdrawn into isolation, battling tendencies to compare and despair. And the numbers don’t lie.
- 98.7% have experienced feelings of self-doubt or Imposter Syndrome
- 71.5% feel really inadequate after scrolling through some hustle porn.
- 96.6% have felt unvalued in our roles as designers and creatives.
- 97.9% have felt stuck at one point or another.
- 98.3% experience anxiety about finding purpose and a voice.
- 83% struggle significantly with work/life balance, burnout, and stress.
- 84.7% have leaned heavily (at some point) into self-destructive behavior, procrastination, perfectionism, and self-medication.
The next steps
So what now? We’ve had a real and meaningful beginning. But it’s just a beginning. We’re putting our findings to good use by developing the kind of programming you’ve asked for: peer-to-peer community gatherings. Well Aware: Belong will be the first event in a series that will create a brave space for talking about things that we obviously all have in common, but haven’t necessarily had a forum to discuss — until now. A judgment-free zone with friends and colleagues who have experience, strength and hope to share? Yes, please.
We hope to see you at the event on October 23, at Morningstar. Until then, be good to yourselves and to each other.
AIGA Chicago claims no professional standing, or ability to diagnose or treat matters of serious mental illness and health. In times of distress or intense mental challenges, we urge everyone to seek professional help. If you are in a state of personal crisis, please reach out to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1–800–273–8255.
