The Importance And Colors Of Mental Health Awareness Ribbons

A Quick Guide To The Most Common Mental Health Awareness Ribbon Colors

Mental health awareness ribbon / image from Depositphotos

Stigma has surrounded various mental health conditions for a long time. However, in recent years, human rights activists and organizations worldwide have been actively working to eradicate the societal prejudice associated with these issues. They are coming up with various ways to do so, including introducing colorful ribbons to show your support.

Read further to learn about mental health awareness ribbons, their importance, and their meaning.

The Importance Of Mental Health Ribbons

picture of a healthy person by Depositphotos

Mental health struggles are real and widespread across the globe. In 2022, they were the second biggest health problem worldwide (36% of adults), second only to COVID-19. What’s more, in 2019–2020, 20.78% of US adults were suffering from a mental illness. That is equivalent to over 50 million Americans.

Knowing that, it’s understandable why things like Mental Health Awareness Month and colorful ribbons are so important. Such ribbons can be a simple and subtle way to show that you support people with mental health issues.

The Creation Of The Mental Health Awareness Ribbon

The practice of using colored ribbons to raise awareness for different issues became widely popular in the 20th century. One of the most well-known examples is the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness and the red ribbon for HIV/AIDS awareness.

The Mental Health Foundation promotes the green ribbon as an international symbol for mental health awareness. It shows that you are a person who supports people struggling with such issues, and that they can turn to you for help or open up to you without the risk of facing any kind of judgment.

FAQ: Where Can I Get An Official Mental Health Awareness Ribbon?

The official Mental Health Awareness green ribbon is a pin that can be purchased on the Mental Health Awareness website. However, you can also download a digital green ribbon template on the same site to use on your social media. You can also create a handmade ribbon from a piece of silk or any other material.