Accepting neurodiversity, using therapy as a tool, and ending the stigma.

The stigma around mental health needs to end. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood through adulthood.

Mental health problems are often caused by biological factors including brain chemistry, life experiences including trauma, and family history of mental health problems. We need to normalize talking about mental health, normalize finding resources that help those facing challenges, and allow people to realize their full potential.

Through the Mental Health Matters collection, Lettering Works aims to promote positivity around therapy and prioritizing mental health in different forms. The designs are meant to be conversation starters and contribute to the ever-evolving, overarching need for more emphasis to be placed on mental health. We want everyone to have the ability to realize their full potential, cope with stresses of life, work productively, and make contributions to their communities and hope these designs encourage just that.

It’s no secret that living through a pandemic has made the need for more mental health resources and discussions even more prevalent. If you’ve never considered going to therapy, we hope these designs encourage you to open your mind and maybe even give it a try. If you’ve been to more sessions than you can count, we hope these messages resonate with you and help normalize therapy in your life and communities.

The good news is that there are countless resources and professionals ready to support individuals in their pursuit of mental health. One resource that I really enjoy is seizetheawkward.org because it has great conversation starter ideas as well as signs to look for if you are concerned about a friend.

Mental health challenges can be apparent but also hidden or invisible. Know that if you are dealing with something that feels really difficult and hard to manage that there are people and resources here for you. Always remember that you are enough and you deserve love and happiness.

Inspired by an evolution of passion projects and purpose

This new collection is truly the evolution of previous passion projects (Steph’s Stickers, Cool Beans, Chronically Positive, Disability Pride, and Scoliosis Strong) alongside continuous learning. The overarching mission of Lettering Works designs is to build community through quality art and design - the community can be centered around a place or action or an interest, a specific practice, or even a shared circumstance. This collection celebrates the importance of mental health and seeking treatment, solutions, and resources that are right for you.

I started going to both individual therapy in fall 2021 and wish I had started sooner. I think it is so essential to normalize therapy and have more conversations around our mental health and overall well-being.

My hope is that these designs can be shared with nonprofits advocating for mental health and offer a solution to their design needs at a more affordable rate. Many nonprofits pour so much of their resources into their advocacy and education efforts, often leaving design to take a back seat. All designs in the Mental Health Matters collection are available for purchase in both a licensing and wholesale product capacity. Request a project catalog here. I’d love to see these designs make their way into my current stockists as well as new retail shops across the United States.

A look at the designs + why their messages are important:

Mental Health Matters

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It’s of utmost importance, even though it is often overlooked.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Go To Therapy

A friendly reminder that therapy is an essential resource that is available to help you. Psychotherapy, talk or talking therapy, counseling, or simply therapy—no matter the name it's known by, mental health counseling can benefit people struggling with emotional difficulties, life challenges, and mental health concerns. Therapy can help improve symptoms of many mental health conditions.

Boundaries Are Self Care

Healthy boundaries are necessary components for self-care. Without boundaries, we feel depleted, taken advantage of, taken for granted, or intruded upon. Whether it's in work or in our personal relationships, poor boundaries may lead to resentment, hurt, anger, and burnout.

Therapy Is For Everyone

A common misconception is that therapy is only for people with severe mental problems. The truth is we could all benefit from therapy at some point in our lives.

Self Care Isn’t Selfish

Self care is essential to protecting and sustaining your mental health. It’s an intentional process and looks different for everyone. It’s not just about self-indulgent actions, but is actually backed by science! Not convinced? Check out this article on why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish or Superficial.

Pro Therapy

Therapists can help people better understand and cope with their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They can also offer guidance and help improve a person's ability to achieve life goals. These mental health professionals may also help assess and diagnosis mental health conditions. What’s not to be pro here?

Everyone Deserves Love

No one should feel like they are unworthy of love. We all deserve love - the love from people who truly care for our well-being and want to be a part of our lives, as well as the love we give to ourselves.

More Self Love

People who have more self love tend to know what they think, feel, and want better and can take actions according to their needs instead of wants. This allows people to turn away from automatic behavior patterns that might get them in trouble or get someone stuck in the past.

Keep Going

The semicolon is a reminder to pause, breathe and keep going. A semicolon is also used as a message of affirmation and solidarity against suicide, depression, addiction, and other mental health issues.

Take Your Meds

If you have a chronic health condition - this message may resonate with you more. It’s hard to always remember to take your meds. The reality is that taking your medication as prescribed is important to controlling chronic conditions, treating temporary ones and overall health and well-being. While we are at it, let’s end the stigma around taking medications.

Get Outside Of Your Own Head

Our minds are incredibly powerful tools, but can also trap us in cycles of negative thought patterns, uncertainty, and stress. Sometimes you might wish you could just hit the Escape button to get outside of your head.

End The Stigma

Due to the stigma that surrounds mental illness, people - particularly younger people - often do not want to admit that something is wrong. The key to overcoming this is to promote more open, honest, and supportive conversations around mental health.

Be Kind To Your Mind

Support your mental health by being accepting of your thoughts and feelings. Not sure how to be kind to your mind? A quick online search will lead you to countless lists including this list of 12 tips for good mental health in the creative industries.

Healing Is Not Linear

Similar to progress, growth, and achievement, healing is not linear. It is not a straight line in one direction, but rather contains a step or two backwards, a couple of steps sideways, some zigzagging, and circular motions in order to ultimately move forward

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

Vote for your favorite Mental Health Matters collection designs starting November 29th on Instagram @letteringworks. The most popular designs will be made into stickers (and potentially other merchandise too).

We are looking for partners and collaborators to allow this collection to go further in its impact of the disability community. If you or someone you know would like to work with Lettering Works, send us a message here.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Chelsie Tamms is an award-winning lettering artist and designer based out of Chicago. She is the owner of Lettering Works, a branding studio that connects businesses to their audience through creativity and strategy. With over 10 years of practice of lettering and design, Chelsie is passionate about craft and intention. When she’s not designing, she can be found eating ice cream, traveling internationally, or starting a new passion project.