menhera is a mental health movement originating in japan. the term was first seen in the 2000s on a 2ch board, where people would come together in order to talk about any of their problems affecting their mental health. at its core, the definition of menhera is "someone who seeks mental well being."
menhera as a term has gained a considerable amount of stigma around it, as throughout its existence it has been misused to refer to someone as a "psycho" or a "yandere." menhera was first notably used in this way when an assault case gained public traction, and an investigation into the culprit had found that they had referred to themselves as "menhera" online. thus began its misuse as a derogatory term, particularly when one attaches the "kei" suffix to it. in spite of this, many people still resonate with menhera and use it as it was intended.
Menhera as an Art Form
being a community based around mental health, vent art is very common. it's not solely limited to drawing and painting; people often vent through music, photography, and other creative mediums. fashion in the menhera community is the biggest example of this, which i'll expand upon in the next section. although not many creatives explicitly label themselves as menhera artists, the subject matter of their art can be interpreted as menhera creations by people who resonate with them.
menhera in music is something that i feel an intense attachment to. my favorite menhera musicians are mainly in the vocaloid community, and they include kairiki bear, iyowa, pepoyo, and iname. some non-vocaloid musicians are tuyu, lilipi, momone chinoi, takayan, and wotoha.
The Connection Between Menhera and Fashion
in many places in the world, the idea that one cannot be struggling if they look good is very prevalent. menhera challenges this ideal by allowing people to quite literally wear their hearts on their sleeve; vent art prints and medical-themed accessories are very commonly associated with menhera coordinates. while a menhera coord can be almost anything that allows the wearer to vent their struggles, it's important to keep in mind that menhera is not a costume, nor is it an excuse to show off triggering or tasteless content.
for more information on the menhera subculture, please visit menhera.bio!
What is Menhera?
