The storm unfolded when Elmo casually checked in with the question, “How is everybody doing?” on Monday morning. Users shared personal struggles, from existential dread to the feeling of time dragging on endlessly, with one user posting “Elmo I’m suffering from existential dread over here.” The hashtag #EmotionalWellBeing quickly went viral.
Celebrities, such as actress Rachel Zegler, joined the conversation with their responses and quotes, highlighting the challenges they faced and the temptation to share their sadness with Elmo, posting, “resisting the urge to tell Elmo that I am kinda sad.”
Chance The Rapper responded with a positive outlook, posting: “Honestly, I’m in a really good place rn.”
Retired San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Deputy and mental health advocate Meagan McCarthy spoke to The Epoch Times, noting the importance of mental health check-ins: “There’s comfort in community, and even though it was a tweet by Elmo, it can feel good to have someone ask how you’re doing, and to realize you’re not the only one going through a tough time.”
Ms. McCarthy said there is a fine line between opening up and sharing what could be seen as triggering anecdotes online.
“Trauma dumping is something to be cautious of, but also realizing that it is okay to not be okay is actually therapeutic, and talk therapy is beneficial for many people,” she said.
Speaking Out About Mental Health
Ms. McCarthy noted it wasn’t always socially acceptable to have an open discussion about mental health or feelings. “Having a fictional character like Elmo being able to talk about mental health, which is still in many realms a taboo subject, shows that it’s okay to talk about uncomfortable things and to recognize that mental health can affect anyone for any reason,” she said before disclosing that she has a mental health diagnosis. “As someone who is diagnosed with PTSD, I found that once I opened up about mental health and felt like I wasn’t alone in my struggles, I really began to heal.”Ms. McCarthy began speaking out on mental health issues after she was assaulted while responding to a domestic violence call.
Individuals grappling with behavioral health challenges find themselves caught in a challenging cycle where their health conditions often adversely affect their income, and the financial constraints of a low-income status create significant barriers to accessing the necessary care.
While this issue is not exclusive to behavioral health, it presents unique challenges. Beyond demographic factors and the persisting societal stigma surrounding mental health, these conditions are scientifically intricate, demanding labor-intensive and prolonged treatment. Furthermore, they frequently intersect with various other socioeconomic challenges, necessitating interventions that extend beyond the conventional realm of health care.
Ms. McCarthy observed the mental health epidemic in the United States daily while working in law enforcement, saying: “There are tens of thousands of individuals every day who battle mental health conditions and many of those don’t seek help because they don’t believe someone can actually help.”
She noted the difficulties that Americans are facing in the current political climate. “When you have veterans and American citizens being pushed aside for illegal immigrants, how can you feel comfortable reaching out for help and actually receiving what you need/ Americans should be put first and until that happens, the mental health crisis will continue to exist.”
