Comics Creators Focus On Mental Health At Baltimore Panel

 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - September 26, 2018 - The 2018 Baltimore Comic-Con starts this Friday at the Baltimore Convention Center! Tickets are on sale through Thursday afternoon!

This Saturday at Baltimore Comic-Con, comics creators will team up to discuss mental health in the comics industry and beyond.

The last few years has seen the loss of entertainment icons such as Robin Williams, Anthony Bourdain, Kate Spade, and others due to suicides connected, in part, to anxiety, depression, and addiction. While some have spoken out to raise awareness (including BCC guest Wil Wheaton, of Star Trek fame), too often, mental illness is an assumed and accepted condition of creative individuals.

John Gallagher (Buzzboy, Kids Love Comics) will moderate "Creativity & Mental Health - A Roundtable Discussion," 4:00-5:00 PM Saturday, and will be discussing being creative, and how it can sometimes go hand-in-hand with depression, anxiety, learning differences, and more. Joining Gallagher will be Laura Lee Gulledge (Page by Page, Sketchbook Dares), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules, Disney's Tangled)), and Jamar Nicholas (Leon: Protector of the Playground). Each creator will discuss their personal experiences, as well as topics like coping mechanisms, support networks, and reaching out for professional help. "Like diabetes, cancer, or any other disease, depression is not something to hide, or be ashamed of," says Gallagher, who has been treated the last twenty years for chronic depression, "and we wanted to get the conversation out in the open, hopefully to help guide creators, fans, and friends out of their dark places."

Gallagher does point out that he and the speakers are not therapists, but rather, creators who have worked in the trenches of the comics world, while dealing with issues of mental health. And while the panel will only be one hour, Gallagher hopes the discussion will continue and grow. As Gallagher stated, "Being diagnosed and treated for depression lifted me up beyond my illness, and allowed me to create comics that make me and others happy." Gallagher added, "Hopefully, this talk will help folks not feel so alone, and reach out for help, personally and professionally."

Please note: No licensed therapist will be on hand, and the moderator and speaker are not mental health professionals. Handouts will be provided to help guide those looking for mental health resources. If you are in crises, don't delay, call the suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255

FULL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: 4:00-5:00 - Creativity & Mental Health - A Roundtable Discussion Moderator: John Gallagher Panelists: Jimmy Gownley, Laura Lee Gulledge, Jamar Nicholas Along with the thrill and excitement of being creative, it can sometimes go hand-in-hand with depression, anxiety, learning differences, and more. Moderator John Gallagher host creators Jimmy Gownley, Laura Lee Gullidge, and Jamar Nicholasas they shine a light on mental health, crisis management, and joining together as an industry to encourage each other get the resources they need for a happier life. Please note: This is an open discussion on mental health, and may include topics of a delicate nature.

TICKETS General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Ringo Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!

GUARANTEED PARKING To make parking easy and stress free, we have partnered with Parking Panda, the nationwide leader in online parking reservations, to allow attendees to purchase guaranteed parking near the Baltimore Comic-Con. View real-time availability and pricing at many convenient locations within easy walking distance to the convention center. Once purchased, parking is 100% guaranteed even if the location otherwise fills up. Simply present your purchase confirmation at the selected location, and this serves as your payment with no additional payments or fees ever. Parking availability is very limited, so it is strongly recommended that you purchase your parking in advance, if driving.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS While they are available, be sure to take advantage of discount rate arrangements we have made with hotels near the Baltimore Convention Center. For all the details, see: http://baltimorecomiccon.com/about/hotels/