This is an idea for a social injustice campaign in the UK, touching on a subject that is something we both are passionate for the Creative Conscience Awards 2022. Myself and my creative partner James entered these awards as a team and created this project under the category “health + well-being”
Problem: There are no natural antidepressants prescribed by doctors. Antidepressants are addictive and used in the long term often with no end game in sight. More and more young people are using them. With 17% of the UK adult population taking these drugs giant pharmaceutical companies are making huge profits with the market said to be worth £12.5 billion by 2023.
Insights: Exciting insights we found are that recent papers from John Hopkins and Imperial College talk about the positive potential for psychedelics such as Psilocybin can be used effectively for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Psychedelics can work faster and more effectively than antidepressants.
We asked ourselves if there is potential for more effective medications why aren’t the big Pharmaceutical companies exploring this? We think it is because they do not want to.
Solution: To solve this gross injustice, we are going to attack these pharmaceutical companies and educate the population about what these companies are doing. Additionally, we are going to push for government-funded research into natural antidepressants as they are not private companies solely focused on profits.
This is the print for the campaign.
Along with below, assets for the execution of the campaign to help make a change, including mock up pill boxes to be handed out by fake 'professionals' (dressed in lab coats with a 'Phuck Pharma' badge). With a template for a letter to your local MP inside, and stickers with QR code on linking to a petition to spread the message and information so people can be informed and make more considered decisions on their health.
Mock up of the pill box
Pill box as well as what it includes
Letter template to the local MP
Stickers in use at pharmacy shops
Mock up of the phone petition