Graphic Medicine

1. “What is a ‘Mood Disorder’ Anyway?” Ask students to turn to a neighbor and work together to understand the five types of mood disorder (by the stars) based on what they can read and see on the page.

2.  See, Think, Feel, Wonder 

3.  “What is a ‘Mood Disorder’ anyway?” and Four Excerpts—from Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me. Ask students how these images communicate personal—i.e., Ellen Forney—experiences and facts of living with and treating bipolar disorder. Record students’ reflections and summarize how Graphic Medicine offers different ways to share and understand multiple aspects of dealing with an illness.

Forney, Ellen. Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me. New York, NY: Avery 2012

• MedlinePlus – Bipolar Disorder: https://medlineplus.gov/bipolardisorder.html

• MedlinePlus – Depression: https://medlineplus.gov/depression.html

• National Institute of Mental Health – “Teen Depression” (PDF): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression/teen_depression_508_150205.pdf

• National Institute of Mental Health – “Bipolar Disorder” (PDF): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/tr-15-3679_152248.pdf