How Do Memes Help Our Mental Health?

A meme is a worldwide phenomenon that takes the form of an image, video, or gif, spreading humour on the internet. It is generally an image and/or text of a current situation that the creator would like to express.

An article published in The Conversation in 2020 describes memes perfectly, “Internet memes are a bit like an inside joke you share with the entire internet.” During the first lockdown, I spent days scrolling through Instagram (like many of us). Seeing posts about other people being locked up at home made it certain that I wasn’t in this fight alone. As everyone was home and bored, innovative content filled my feed, and I was more than happy to consume it.

Working in fashion as a hair and makeup artist, I usually only followed very specific content for inspirational purposes. As the lockdown continued I found myself more inclined towards pages with memes that would elevate my mood. Infact, eventually I ran out of things to talk to my friends about and forwarding memes became the norm.

The second wave and subsequent lockdowns brought on even more loads of hopelessness and bad news. During a situation like this people find it hard to consume news as it may get emotionally exhausting. Memes can be used to deliver an important disturbing message but with fewer triggers.

If we follow the right pages we can help our mood, self confidence & self esteem. Some memes transcend boundaries, serving as a tool of more than just comic relief. Memes created by therapists have very powerful messages that stick with us as we try to navigate through our day. The Awkward Yeti is a beautiful sketch that depicts the relationship between the brain and the heart, having it out there as a cartoon made me feel better about the constant turmoil that existed in my body.

Credit: @theawkwardyeti on instagram

I’ve also noticed that dark and sarcastic humour has been the key to making many of these memes a success. They may not be light hearted, but make us feel, for lack of a better word, “normal,” and that helps with the shame that comes with most of it.

Credit: @mytherapistsays on instagram

A study conducted by Umair Akram in 2020 published by the Scientific Report suggests that memes have helped some people ease (not cure or resolve) their mental health symptoms, especially those based on the subjects of mental health and illness. Additionally, content like this has also potentially contributed to destigmatizing mental health as a whole,  “I think memes could help destigmatize mental health as it makes it more relatable. It takes off the edge from a topic that is still largely taboo and not openly discussed,” says Dr. Natasha D’Cruz, a practicing psychologist and psychotherapist.

So if you’re consuming and sharing memes, keep doing your part. You never know who you might help. After all, the world really does need more giggles.