Brescia alumna, Tara Shannon, becomes viral author with accessible mental health illustrations

Faced with a life-altering cancer diagnosis and the loss of both her parents, Tara Shannon (Class of 2000) needed an outlet for her emotions. She found that way out through illustrating heart-warming interactions between a timid rabbit and wise bear.

Rabbit somewhat became the embodiment of Shannon’s own experiences, while Bear reflected the love and insight she often sought from her late mom and dad. Initially, her drawings were a private catharsis that empowered Tara to find a sense of calm amidst chaos. Little did she know that Rabbit and Bear would soon hop off her pages and into the hearts of more than a million online readers.

“By 2014, the ground had really fallen out from beneath me,” Tara shares. “I needed to find a way to build myself up. These two characters came out of that desire to manage my feelings and put my energies towards something more positive.”

Over the next several years, Tara’s illustrations were simply enjoyed by her loved ones. Yet, in 2020, when the world became inundated with pandemic news, Tara recognized the feelings she had previously dealt with were becoming increasingly commonplace. Hoping to provide others with the same solace she had found in the curation of her woodland friends, she started sharing her drawings on Facebook. At that time, she had merely 200 people in her network.

In March of that year, Tara was scrolling through social media before bed and saw one of her illustrations pop up on her feed – posted by a source previously unknown to her. The next morning, she realized Bear’s comforting words to Rabbit had been shared more than 17,000 times and engaged with by hundreds of thousands of people. 

“I was completely baffled by what was happening,” Tara reflects on the wonderfully strange series of events that led her to becoming the author of multiple global publications. “But, when I think about how unimposing Rabbit and Bear are, I believe this is why so many people relate to them. They take big, complicated feelings and turn them into something accessible and comfortable.”

A first-generation student, Tara wasn’t entirely sure what university would hold. However, she loved that Brescia at Western University’s uniquely small campus enabled her to explore multiple curiosities at once, meet women from around the world and pursue her academic and professional passions within environments where she felt safe and supported.

Tara’s creative approach to grappling with mental health symptoms is a skill she cultivated throughout the completion of her Brescia degree. As an English Major, she explored centuries of archetypes and narratives that each sought to portray the human experience in meaningful ways. This, in turn, helped form the very parts of Rabbit and Bear that have made them so popular.

“These two characters are not typically human, so it feels less threatening to people who are afraid of the stigma associated with mental health. I purposely chose not to assign them names or specific characteristics. I wanted them to have elements of many people, so they could be applicable on a much broader scale.”

While the rising Brescia alumna is now looking toward a stage play in the United Kingdom and celebrating the publication of her next book, all she really wants to do is, “Help people feel less alone, regardless of age, stage or struggle.”

We love the creative ways Brescia students and graduates apply their gifts towards making the world a more just and caring place. We are so proud of Tara’s amazing accomplishments, but even more of the heart that encouraged her to reach out and care for others during a time when it was easier to remain in our bubbles.

In celebration of Tara, we would like to leave all our amazing Brescia students – future, past and present – with the following words of Bear and Rabbit wisdom: