Graphic Medicine in a nutshell!

The Graphic Medicine Project is a ground-breaking Partnership between Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Comics Youth CIC that aims to raise awareness of Graphic Medicine as an interdisciplinary practice through the development of young person-friendly health information and health education resources via the medium of comics and zines. On an operational level, Graphic Medicine delivers a range of autobiographical narrative sessions for chronically and terminally ill children and young people aged 8-18 based within wards and inpatient settings at Alder Hey, with the aim of capturing patient stories.

By delivering creative comics-based workshops for young people at bedside or in group settings, we aim to establish a better quality of life for patients whilst in the hospital by addressing some of the underlying issues associated with long-term hospital stays such as isolation, anxiety, and depression. It also supports children and young people to develop new skills in visual literacy, story-telling and graphic design as well as transferable skills and life experiences such as decision-making and creative expression, which will support both their immediate wellbeing and also their future education and development.

The movement!

Graphic Medicine is a term coined by Dr Ian Williams which denotes the use of comics to tell personal stories of illness and health. The combined language of words and pictures within the comics medium gives approachability and emotional impact to these personal stories, and even to the clinical data they sometimes include.

Comics combine the explicit meaning of words and symbols with the abstract and expressiveness of art to create the unique, multi-layered language of comics. When reading (or creating) comics, the text and images work together to create meaning that neither conveys alone. Other common aspects of this storytelling language used by comics include visual metaphor, combined or altered symbols, and humour. Graphic medicine communicates the author’s personal experiences of illness and health, as art adds a subjective emotional impact. The author’s internal individual viewpoint balances the external clinical realm of medical symptoms and diagnoses. Additionally, for patients who share health issues, it’s a way to have company and share information. We believe that learning about illness and treatment can be an effective coping and health strategy for the author and sharing that information with readers can transform a negative experience into a positive one!

Our hearts!

For those of you that don't know, Alder Hey holds a special place in our hearts as our MD spent the first 18 years of her life traveling to and from Aberystwyth for treatment. We can't quite put into words how wonderful it has been to ‘give back to the hospital’ and support children and young people within its doors. Over the past few years, we have had the distinct pleasure to work with young people on the oncology, renal and surgical wards to make and create comics about their experiences of hospital, illness, and day to day life as a means of distraction and education. We have laughed, we have cried....and at points, we’ve been chased down corridors by a remote-controlled Darth Vader! Who knew??!

Our favourite quote so far is from a young person with Sickle Cell Anemia: ‘My illness is a dark cloud that follows me around, but I have control of it’. B, you're such a Superhero and you inspire us every day!

(Picture of Rhi as a baby on M2 circa 1992)

Pencil Pals!

Pencil Pals offers individual support by Comics Youth staff to young people who have childhood cancer or have received care from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

The scheme aims to support young people experiencing childhood cancer by providing a befriending service in order to promote well-being and self-esteem, combat feelings of isolation and boredom, spark creativity, and provide a friend when getting out to see other friends is difficult, as well as providing valuable periods of respite for parents/guardians. We understand the impact that COVID19 has had on the mental and emotional wellbeing of young people experiencing childhood cancer and hope to provide them an opportunity to laugh, be creative, and set the world to rights!

Each young person taking part in the project will receive a pack of art supplies and comics to suit their needs. For safeguarding purposes, children and young people under 16 would need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian for digital sessions.

For more information please ring Rhiannon on 07525369624 or email rhiannon@comicsyouth.co.uk

Turn The Page !

Lockdown Art Tutorials with our pal, Max!

Creating art can be a great way to ease the anxiety of this period in lockdown and beyond! These short tutorials are designed to make use of tools and materials we already have at home to make something fun!