Many people feel targeted by online toxicity. Children and teens struggle with thoughts of suicide due to cyberbullying through social media. Deep emotional pain as a result of this often plays a part in suicidal behavior and risk of suicide. Persistent feelings of failure, shame and worthlessness—discrimination, racism or other challenges related to being an immigrant or minority; adverse childhood experiences, like trauma, abuse, or bullying.
Making people feel unwanted, unloved, ugly, not talented or stupid causes them to be suicidal. In their eyes, suicide may feel like the only escape from hate.
This poster titled, The Final Escape, exposes a hot topic, and is intended to provide hope; and connect people to a place where they can connect and be understood. People need to know that their life has significance and value; and that no matter how bad things get, there is always hope.
In order to create this mixed media piece, I tore apart the "S" encyclopedia and removed the keys from a few computer keyboards. I arranged the keys to create the title, then cut out the pages behind the keys so that they would fit flush with the page about suicide. I then photographed it. I also photographed a broken iPhone screen. I took both photos into Adobe Photoshop and created a bloody thumbprint, and a splash of blood over the escape button. I placed the iPhone screen button hole over the word suicide on the page. Large social media logos were included. Many layers and blending modes were used to create this mixed media piece.