Adwoa Aboah may be one of Britain’s top supermodels, famous for gracing the covers of glossy magazines and catwalks around the world, but she’s also a fierce mental health activist and the founder of Gurls Talk, an online community where young women can discuss the difficult issues facing them today. Now she has launched a brand new campaign through the platform, #CopingTogether, in a bid to provide some much-needed help and guidance during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
With the country now in lockdown and millions around the world practicing social distancing and self-isolation, many are finding feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and loneliness hard to avoid. The #CopingTogether campaign aims to battle that by using creativity to promote “healthy, constructive and positive coping techniques”, and encourages people to submit their art – be that anything from sketches and paintings to poetry and video diaries – to its website to share with the global community.
Several entries have already been posted on the Gurls Talk Instagram page, with submissions flooding in from around the world – so far there have been watercolours from London, photographs from Copenhagen and collages from Puerto Rico – while celebrities including Emilia Clarke have also pledged to share how they’re using their own time during isolation.
“These are uncertain times and I know that like me, a lot of you out there are feeling anxious and looking for ways to cope,” said Aboah in a post on Instagram. “To that end, and in the spirit of staying connected, Gurls Talk is launching our #CopingTogether initiative. I’m inviting you all to join me in submitting art, videos, photos, poetry, essays, journal entries, humour – anything that helps you process your emotions.”Time to dust off that camera, unpack those oil paints and get connecting.
To submit to the Gurls Talk initiative, email your submission, location, age and IG handle to [email protected] or tag them on Instagram (@gurlstalk) with the hashtag #copingtogether