SELF CARE IS FOR EVERYONE: VIRAL MENTAL HEALTH MERCH CULTIVATES KINDNESS AND COMMUNITY
BY: JANICE RONAN
The words “You are Enough” doodled across a grey sweatshirt in rainbow font garnered a considerable reaction that broke the internet. The viral Instagram post of Debby Ryan, Disney Channel alum was shared to her 16 million followers in a caption that read, "I know there's bummer stuff everywhere and it's hard not to feel helpless sometimes, but your energy is more valuable spent on the things you can do something about."
The posted image, a cheerful selfie, did not stray from those that normally occupy her feed, and though Ryan did not tag the brand behind the pullover, her fans took notice of the powerful message and instantly traced it to Self Care Is For Everyone, a small, family-owned advocacy organization and apparel brand aiming to make healing resources, experiences and affirmations accessible for all.
With more than one million followers on Instagram and over $800,000 (and counting) paid out to the suicide prevention nonprofits and independent artists who advocate for mental health – the brand is well on their way to achieving this goal. So far, the company has been fortunate to support important organizations including AFSP, 988 Lifeline, Didi Hirsch, The Trevor Project, Nami, Crisis Text Line, NEDA, The Audre Lorde Project and the Loveland Foundation. Each order is packed with love and includes a voucher for one month of free online therapy.
Originally launched as an Instagram project, Self Care Is For Everyone was founded on World Kindness Day (2018), in Cherry Hill, NJ by Co-Founders, Sasha Aronzon-Martofel who has a Master’s Degree in Counselling for Higher Education Students, AJ Martofel, who is considered the business brain, with over ten years of expertise operating online businesses and Johnathan Martofel, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Degree in Fine Arts. The team is transparent that they are on their own respective healing journeys as well. While they maintain that they are not experts in these important conversations, they are rather here to amplify the voices of mental health advocates whom they resonate with and who share their wisdom with those in need.
Credit: Self Care Is For Everyone Website
Every purchase gives back! Think ultra comfy tees, tanks, hoodies, stickers and totes designed by artists to display positive messages of hope and affirmation – all sparking kindness and conversation. Independent artists from around the world spotlight a diverse range of voices in these conversations surrounding mental health. They maintain the rights to their designs and the brand provides them with a platform. Self Care Is For Everyone pays their artists monthly providing illustrators the opportunity to make a living off their artwork for the first time.
Garments are created out of the healing journeys of the artists who create the messages; Self Care Is For Everyone provides a platform for artists to continue creating work around their mental health, but they have also empowered individuals to remind themselves of the messages they need to hear.
More than 300,000 self-care reminders have already made their way across the globe. It brings the founders so much joy seeing their products find their way to wonderful humans knowing the messages can make all the difference with healing.
Manifesting a kinder world where everyone regardless of identity, race, economic status or background is afforded the same right to community, empathy, and healing - Self Care Is For Everyone encourages people to feel their feelings, access available resources and choose self-care over self-harm.
Suicide prevention begins with all of us – you are enough, you deserve to heal, you are worthy!