Creating a community and a space you feel comfortable being vulnerable in is priceless. For those who suffer from a mental illness and depression, it can be hard to feel safe and open up to others, whether in real life at work, at your kid’s school, in a relationship, or in a friendship–or sometimes especially with family.
This is why I love the social media movement happening with the hashtag #IWantYouToKnow–which is a space for those who are trying to dispel the myths and stigmas associated with mental illness. Parents, kids, and teens can use this hashtag can help them feel less alone. Even if you don’t want to tweet out, reading personal tweets can help.
Here are some of my favorite tweets:
Let’s make it easier for people to understand mental illness. What do you wish people knew your mental health problem? #Iwantyoutoknow pic.twitter.com/yZSuJTFg8P
— Time to Change (@TimetoChange) June 19, 2017
#IWantYouToKnow that to talk about your mental health shows strength. To cry shows courage. And that’s for us men too!
— Harry Eccles (@Heccles94) June 19, 2017
#iwantyoutoknow that if you’re high functioning with your mental illness, it doesn’t mean you’re not still seriously ill @TimetoChange
— Toni (@toniwriter) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that it’s not ok to tell someone with depression, anxiety & PTSD that they need to ‘get over it, because life goes on’
— Clomojo (@Clomojo87) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that I’m not attention seeking, the little things cause me anxiety and panic attacks. #MentalHealthAwareness
— liv (@livv_1207) June 19, 2017
“I want you to know I still suffer from depression. Sometimes with a smile and sometimes not.”#iwantyoutoknow @TimetoChange 🥊🥊 pic.twitter.com/wxbmSy1qxF
— Leon Mckenzie (@LeonMckenzie1) June 19, 2017
I want you to know the divide between mental and physical illness is false. My anxiety is physical and so is my brain. #IWantYouToKnow
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that everyone’s story is unique. As much as people would love to ‘snap out of’ bad times, it’s not that simple. Be patient.
— Tony Kainth (@DrTonyKainth) June 19, 2017
#IWantYouToKnow social anxiety doesn’t mean I don’t like you. I just don’t know how to talk to you.
— Stacey Flavell (@staceydroach) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that dealing with mental illness has made me stronger than I ever imagined I was
— Matthew Williams (@3DMathW) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that eating disorders DONT have a weight limit , people of all shapes and sizes can suffer and struggle.
— liv (@livv_1207) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that there is more to me than my mental illness. It’s a huge part of my life but it does not define who I am. @TimetoChange pic.twitter.com/MhyvFRZq8D
— Jodie💃🏽 (@JodieVolunteers) June 19, 2017
#IWantYouToKnow just because I don’t ‘look’ like I suffer from anxiety doesn’t mean that I don’t and it doesn’t make me an attention seeker
— Jazz 👑 (@jazz_tia_owens) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow my illness is just a small part of me and I have so much more to give @TimetoChange pic.twitter.com/Lfg7o9rH4S
— Andrea Wade ✨ (@andjjxx) June 19, 2017
#iwantyoutoknow that NOBODY looks likes they have a mental illness pic.twitter.com/8wowmnBzDx
— Evie👽✨ (@ohevieee) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that having to leave uni due to mental illness did not make me a failure, it made me brave for seeking the help I needed. pic.twitter.com/m3phdPpXKH
— Lauren 💃🏻 (@laurenquig90) June 19, 2017
#Iwantyoutoknow that bipolar is incredibly hard to deal with, and even the simplest things to everyone else can be hard #mentalhealth
— dat boi Luke (@lwoodall_) June 19, 2017
This post is part of the Here.Now series, which seeks to destigmatize mental health,
and is made possible by UJA-Federation of New York and The Jewish Board.
You can find other educational mental health resources here.
