Senior Grace O’Neill has created a clothing brand called Mindfully Made to highlight the importance of mental health and the egregious effects of its stigma. Aware of the increasing need for mental health advocacy, O’Neil donates 30% of profits to Mental Health America; Mental Health America is dedicated to promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness.

A semicolon is sewn into the sleeve of each sweatshirt. O’Neill explains that “When an author is writing a sentence, a semicolon is used when the author could’ve chosen to end the sentence but instead decides to continue it.” She carries on to say,  “A lot of people don’t decide to keep going and unfortunately take their own lives because they don’t have the help or resources or support system that they need.”

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention found that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death; in 2019, 47,511 Americans died by suicide with an estimated 1.38m suicide attempts. This statistic is evident of the increasing need for businesses like O’Neill’s: businesses that recognize the essential need for more mental health programs.

Eunice Chi, a junior at Hills says “In 2021 issues regarding mental health are becoming more prevalent. Especially in a generation that has grown up comparing themselves to people on social media 24/7. The work Grace is doing highlights the need for more young people to advocate for causes they care about.”

The mental health crisis is not over yet, but will only get better as more awareness spreads.