By: Danae Biln (Media Studies)
“Collateral Damage” is a multimedia acrylic painting that illustrates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical health. While the virus itself has changed our lives, it is only recently that people have started to recognize the crisis web that lockdowns created. In this piece, the audience may spot images of isolation, fear, hopelessness and a depiction of the restrictions imposed.
This project stems from research in suicides and mental health spikes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suicide has been the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 15 – 24 since 2017, according to the CDC’s statistics. The organization also states that “every day, an average of more than 10 Canadians die by suicide”. With newly instated regulations such as social distancing and online schooling, cases of depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses have dramatically increased. For individuals with pre-existing mental illnesses, their symptoms are significantly compounded by these circumstances.