Loss of 1 hp is probably too weak of an effect, as others have noted. If this were instead a drain effect (e.g. lost hp goes to this cards owner) it might be a little better... but that doesn't fit "despair" I think.
I typically associate apathy with despair more than a direct loss of life... This is a good thematic connection with the -1|-0 or -1|-1 ideas since apathy could be manifest as loss of will / ability to fight.
I do like the connection to
generating creatures, since despair is the opposite of hope (which is linked to
generating creatures)
Along that vein, I also think the attack reduction works well thematically, since it accomplishes the shield effect by reducing enemy attack instead of bolstering the owner's resistance. It makes for a nice twinning, mechanically.
