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I don't know if you noticed, Pandas, but folks are not doing that great. 2024 was a rough year for people's mental health, and the statistics reflect that. Mental Health America reports that 23% of Americans experienced a mental illness in 2024.

And while it is a very serious issue, some folks are also able to glean some humor from it. A very aptly named Mental Illness and Memes page on Facebook shares funny observations about what it's like to be not-so-mentally-well. Check out the newest selection of their best memes below and perhaps you too will find them relatable!

More info: Facebook

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    #3

    Mental health meme about anxiety disorder, love of history, and staying informed, posted by ahistoryofghostsmusic.

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    Earthquake903
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've been checked out since America chose the orange diaper. It really sent me reeling.

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    Although we're all about positivity here at Bored Panda, sometimes even we have to get serious for a moment. Pages like Mental Illness and Memes are not about trivializing the struggles of mentally unwell people. They're about normalizing the topic and laughing together, not at something or someone.

    The world is in a mental health crisis at the moment, and it doesn't seem the situation will be getting any better in the near future. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of Queensland recently found that half of the world's population is likely to experience at least one mental health disorder in their lifetime.

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    #6

    A humorous mental health meme questioning impressing one's 14-year-old self.

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    Corvus
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    14-year-old me was quite the weirdo. I don't think he was ever impressed by anyone.

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    Nowadays, it seems that we're more comfortable talking about our mental health struggles. As the number of people diagnosed with mental illness increases each year, so does the discourse about mental health. We're able to joke around about it or tell our loved ones when we're not feeling well.

    Last year, the Pew Research Center asked people with whom they'd be most comfortable talking about their mental health struggles. The majority (57%) replied that a close friend would be their go-to person. The other top two answers were an immediate family member (52%) or a mental health provider (50%).

    #7

    Tweet text about mental health meme comparing thoughts to laundry sorting.

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    Snowkit
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Update: the dark thoughts learned how to clone themselves, they are taking over, if anyone reads this, just know that-*static*

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    #9

    Mental health meme about shuffling music and recognizing the right song unexpectedly.

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    Paul C.
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like getting annoyed with Spotify on shuffle, then realising it's my playlist!

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    Age is one common denominator for people who struggle with depression in particular. In 2022, the Walton Family Foundation found that 42% of Gen Zers struggle with this condition. And a report by Harmony Healthcare IT claimed that 61% of Gen Z have a medical anxiety diagnosis.

    #10

    Mental health meme with text encouraging self-compassion, stating energy is used for survival, not laziness.

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    Snowkit
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No mom and dad, I am not ‘slacking off’ I am trying to savor what little I have left of my childhood before I regret being born.

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    #12

    Text post humorously addressing mental health with a dog's "party" permissions when the owner leaves home.

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    Miss Tinker
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always say to my girl-cat, “be nice to your brothers while I’m out”, knowing full well she’ll torment them as much as possible 🙄

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    Young people are also more open to talking about their mental health. Patrick Griswold, associate professor and clinical instructor in the the Human Services and Counseling Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver, says that's because it's hard to stigmatize something so widespread. "Therapy is now seen as beneficial, and as more people engage with it and find it helpful, the stigma continues to fade."

    #13

    Therapist and patient in session discussing mental health society issues with a humorous twist.

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    Azari Azalea
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That would be useful… if I could actually get medical insurance. Woo capitalism…

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    Although older people are opening up about their mental health too, Gen Z is 20% more likely than other generations to talk about their struggles. And the Internet offers a space to release these anxieties and troubles in the form of gallows humor. When experts at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance talked to Gen Zers, they said that memes help ease the discomfort around serious mental health topics.

    #16

    Congratulations meme showing dopamine molecule, humorously acknowledging scrolling for mental health boost.

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    Dragons Exist
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If only I could drink dopamine, like a Coke with dopamine added, and have it work

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    #18

    Tweet humorously comparing internal monologue to mental health podcasts.

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    Some might say that joking about mental illness veers into dark humor territory. That might be true, but for Generation Z, it only makes sense to look at the world through lenses of absurdism and nihilism. The government's inability to deal with the climate crisis, school shootings, and socioeconomic inequality makes these the only acceptable ways to understand the world.

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    Gen Z also uses particular, jokey slang when talking about mental illness. A stay at a psychiatric hospital, for example, is called "a grippy sock vacation." A mental breakdown is referred to as "menty b" and has become commercialized, appearing on mugs, T-shirts, and other merchandise on Etsy and similar e-commerce platforms.

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    That's where the ugly side of joking about mental illness comes in. By making fun of their mental struggles, people might trivialize their own or others' conditions. Clinical psychologist Dr. Nicholas Westers told CNN that by using that kind of language, people distance themselves from their symptoms and are essentially doing nothing about them. "That reflects very little control over the distress and doesn't reflect any pursuit of healthy coping strategies."

    #26

    Cartoon character holding a book and drink with text expressing frustration, related to mental health memes.

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    Chilli
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "The guillotine was last used in eighteen-" NOPE. NOPE NOPE NOPE. SIT YOUR A*S DOWN, MR. SCOTT, I'M MORE QUALIFIED TO TEACH THIS.

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    Westers worries that using cutesy language to refer to serious mental health conditions and overinterpretation ("I'm so OCD", for example) could be just as dangerous as not talking about mental health at all. "It's possible that our culture is moving to the other extreme, where we're going to trivialize it and destigmatize it so much; everyone's going to talk about it using fun language."

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    As long as we understand that it's all in good fun, we shouldn't be in any trouble. So, how many of these memes did you find relatable, Pandas? Let us know in the comments! But don't fret if you haven't, as you can check our previous article about the Mental Illness and Memes page right here!

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    #33

    Man in hoodie standing by a pool table with text overlay about mental health struggles, reflecting on various influences.

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    Marnie
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's living in an unnatural environment. Humans have a natural habitat and very few humans these days live in it. We're like the Gorilla in a tiny pen at the zoo, eventually acquiring an anxiety issue where she constantly picks at her skin.

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    #35

    Mental health meme about an emotional support TV show from the early 2000s with six or more seasons.

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    DoubleDoubleTiredAndTuckered
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like to watch My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic from time to time. Not only is it nostalgic as f**k, but it feels nice to be able to escape into an idealistic world of pastel-colored horses in 20-minute increments.

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    #36

    Cartoon character lounging with a drink, capturing mental health meme humor about solitude.

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    Snowkit
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you. My parents are like ‘you need friends’ I like ‘no thx I like sitting alone’ they like ‘but you just cried yesterday bc you had no friends I like ‘that bc everyone in the world especially my school is a dummy and I don’t wanna stinkin talk or hang out with them.’

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    #38

    Cartoon person smirking with an okay hand gesture, highlighting mental health memes humor.

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    Chilli
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    REMEMBER! REALITY IS AN ILLUSION THE UNIVERSE IS A HOLLOGRAM, BUY GOLD, BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

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    #40

    Mental health meme featuring a character with an annoyed expression in a forest setting.

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    cecilia kilian
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Little My! In the books she annoyed me when I was a child, now I see what her character added to the stories.

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    #41

    Inflatable character deflated outside, captioned "it's-a-me, depression," depicting mental health meme humor.

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    #42

    Mental health meme shows a blue ribbon with text about the importance of asking for help and taking breaks on a pink background.

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    Lost Panda
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sure there is, it's the reward of not getting into conflict about why you didn't do A or why you need help with B

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    #45

    Logging truck at night with humorous text about mental health memes, expressing a work-related sentiment.

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    JB
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Final Destination only it's not death coming for you, it's Monday morning at the office.

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    #47

    Frog holding a cup, sitting with snacks, surrounded by plants. Text reads: "You guys go ahead I'm gonna dilly dally." Mental health meme.

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    #48

    Tweet meme on mental health humor, expressing concern for a quirky middle school behavior.

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    Corvus
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, the girl who hissed ta people in my school got her PhD several years ago. I guess she is doing well then :)

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    #52

    Mental health meme about feeling limited by the internet, real world, and one's own mind.

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    Remi (He/Him)
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hyper fixate on a fandom, fanfic included and if it doesn't work, switch fandoms :)

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    #55

    Cat startled by nothing with "my anxiety" text, representing mental health meme.

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    Snowkit
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly, there is nothing, the world is an illusion, nothing is real…also I just got some really cute new earrings anyone wanna talk about that…just kidding o hate everyone and everything don’t talk to me.

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    #56

    Cartoon woman by a vanity with the text: "Might cancel this whole healing thing and just listen to the voices." Mental health meme.

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    Paul C.
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You'd think they would have invented knives that didn't whisper things to you, by now!

    #57

    A man in a suit grimacing with text about parenting struggles, related to mental health memes.

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    Luke Branwen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The mere fact they decided to break the cycle of abuse is praiseworthy.

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    #58

    Tweet about wanting a routine from 10 PM to 6 AM, humorously wondering about needing surgery. Mental health meme theme.

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    Shannon Donnelly
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My only conclusion is that I need to move to a different time zone, most likely somewhere in Asia or Australia 🤷🏻‍♀️

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    #59

    Scientist holding a test tube labeled "Finally, Tripolar Disorder," related to mental health memes.

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    LuisSD stuff
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh no! I can barely handle being bipolar. Tripolar will just ruin my day.

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    #60

    Spongebob meme humorously expressing time distortion, related to mental health memes.

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    #61

    Ultrasound image with humorous text about mental health from a collection of memes.

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    #65

    Cartoon character sitting on the floor, looking stressed with wide eyes, illustrating a mental health meme.

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    Paul C.
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My wife's family did this all the time and I noticed my FIL who had a hearing aid would surreptitiously turn the dial down as everything got louder. He caught me watching him and we both burst out laughing. He passed five days short of a hundred and I do miss him.

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    #70

    Bandage meme with text "You good bro?" humorously addressing mental health.

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    #72

    Two contrasting mental health memes: one person in anguish, one joyful after showering, on a bus.

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    #74

    Text meme illustrating anxiety, showing a humorous dialogue about being ready to fight for mental health memes.

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    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My anxiety is all flight, no fight. ( "Run away! Run away!!" )

    #75

    A mental health meme comparing cognitive behavioral therapy and positive gaslighting humorously.

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    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd tell a psychologist people are only evil and will only betray and hurt you. He said there are also good people, 'Really, Ms X' I was attacked and he laughed when I told him. There's not a single good person.

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    #77

    A person sits in a dark, medieval setting with the text “Relaxes stressfully,” highlighting mental health memes.

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    #78

    Cat in sunglasses and scarf sipping juice, with "One sided beef" text, humorously depicting mental health memes.

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    #79

    A funny mental health meme showing a woman ignoring another person in the background.

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    Susan Reid Smith
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    An old fashioned term for it is giving someone a cold shoulder. You can't return calls but want me to make a baby afghan for you? Uh no.

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    #81

    Mental health meme about iced coffee providing temporary hope.

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    #82

    Guide for eating feelings using humorous mental health meme involving Klondike bars and a polar bear costume.

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    #84

    Man in pink cap holding a microphone with text about feeling emotions; mental health memes related humor.

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    Shannon Donnelly
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While that is definitely part of being a pre-teen/teenager… yes, for some of us, it was definitely a sign of things to come lol

    #85

    A humorous mental health meme showing a stressed creature in reaction to plans changing.

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    #86

    Mental health meme about feeling nervous around people without undereye bags.

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    #87

    Person in a car looking overwhelmed, as text humorously relates to mental health challenges of simple tasks.

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    #88

    Person humorously flying on a broomstick with the text "Psychiatrist upped my dose again," illustrating a mental health meme.

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    #89

    Text meme expressing a mix of love and frustration, highlighting mental health humor.

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    #90

    Humorous mental health meme with text: "you should fight them - me as a therapist" on a black background.

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    #91

    A man lies in the snow, a mental health meme about made-up rules and self-reflection.

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    #94

    Two mismatched socks on a blue background, capturing mental health meme humor.

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    🇫🇮 Goth Nurse 🇫🇮
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always use mismatched socks. One day at work someone asked if I'm ok. How so, I asked. They pointed out that my socks matched and that made them worry :D

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    #97

    Person in glamorous attire seated, showcasing mental health meme humor.

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    #98

    A cat with clown makeup captures the feeling of a long week, embodying mental health memes humor.

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