Letters to Strangers

Mental Health Made Personal

[l2smentalhealth]

 😁 Our Biggest Sale of the Year AND a GIFT for YOU! 💝 

🛍 Shop our ONCE a year sale for the holiday season with code "ThankYou22" at checkout (letterstostrangers.org/store). From sustainably-sourced writing materials to our Terry Crews-approved Mental Health Guidebook, this is your chance to gift yourself or a loved one the joys of mental wellbeing (education)! 📚 

Alongside our holiday sale, we're excited to offer a special promotion this year! 

GET FREE EXCLUSIVE ART 🎨 BY Zoë @zoecainart (on Instagram) 

⭐️ Purchase or Donate any amount to L2S by December 1st = ONE entry        ⭐️ Every $25 USD of purchase or donation during this time = ONE ADDITIONAL entry 

WHAT YOU GET:                                                                                                  ⭐️ Everyone gets a free, exclusive digital art created just for this occasion by Zoë                                                                                                                        ⭐️ 2 winners will be drawn from the pool of entries to get a CUSTOM COMMISSION from Zoë (we'll also mail you a print copy of the final art piece for you to keep!) Join the likes of Pinterest, @smithsonian, and @upworthy to say you got to work with Zoë! 

Also, @newnewfoods (on Instagram) is donating 10% of their holiday bundle sales to us, which means you can get caffeine at a discount AND give to our work at the same time. Check it out on their page! 

4 days left to go for #GivingTuesday! Swipe to get excited for the amazing artwork we're dropping! ⁣ ⁣ 

[l2smentalhealth]

It's our FOURTH annual scholarship season!  ⁣ ⁣ 

Our two scholarships are open again! This time, the prize pool is bigger than ever. The Mental Health Changemaker Scholarship will have TEN winners total - one grand prize, one runner-up, and 8 finalists - ALL of which will receive a prize that can be used for tuition in a mental health-related field or for a personal project of mental health advocacy. The Mental Health Warrior Scholarship can be used for mental health treatment costs for someone with demonstrable need.  The grand prize winner of each scholarship will receive $3000 USD, with a total of nearly $10,000 up for grabs among all winners.⁣ ⁣ Applications are open now to ALL countries until April 1st, 2022! (available via www.letterstostrangers.org/scholarship )⁣ ⁣ 

Share this with someone or a network you think would be interested, and apply yourself if you're eligible! ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 

[l2smentalhealth]

💛Happy World Mental Health Day!⁣⁣ 🎉

🔈First off, we are so excited  to launch the Letters to Strangers Mental Health Video Series - a look at how our personal histories, identities, cultures, and other intersectionalities interact with mental health. Watch episode 0 (series intro) and 1 (Asian-Americans & Pacific Islander Mental Health) now on our YouTube Channel (https://bit.ly/L2SVidPlaylist), and be sure to subscribe/share so you and your community get notified when the next episode is out! 

World Mental Health Day is not only a reminder to continue raising awareness and fighting in support of mental health, but also a reminder that you are not alone in this journey and to show appreciation for far you've come! Don't forget that you matter, that you are enough, and that all the work you've done are important regardless of its tangible impact. Wishing you all the best and a gentle reminder to take care of yourself 🤗! ⁣ ⁣

[l2smentalhealth]

🎉Congrats to our 2021 Letters to Strangers Mental Health Changemaker (Mary Louther) Finalists! ⁣😊⁣

Thanks to a generous anonymous donation, we are able to provide additional prizes to all finalists of the Changemaker Scholarship!

The prize winners are:

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Emily Chu⁣⁣

Taylor Lee⁣⁣

Jasmine Gill⁣⁣

Lizbeth Valdivia-Jauregui⁣⁣

Katelyn Weinstein⁣⁣

Nikita Rohila⁣⁣

Haania Mahmood⁣⁣

Rutendo Nyanhanda⁣

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Swipe to read parts of their statement!⁣ ➡

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[l2smentalhealth]

🔈 Deadline extended to April 7 for our two mental health scholarships: Mental Health Changemaker and Mental Health Warrior 📝 ! ⁣⁣⁣⁣

As a reminder, these scholarships are for mental health advocates, mental health students, and/or anyone who could use assistance in affording mental health treatment . ⁣⁣⁣⁣

The winners will receive $3000 (USD) each, make sure to check out letterstostrangers.org/scholarship and tag or share this with anyone you think would be interested ! Open to applicants everywhere !⁣⁣

[l2smentalhealth]

😊 Calling all 📣 !⁣⁣

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Our two scholarships: Mental Health Changemaker and Mental Health Warrior are open again! These scholarships are for mental health advocates, mental health students, and/or anyone who could use assistance in affording mental health treatment 💪. The winners of these scholarships will receive $3000 each - For more details, check it out at letterstostrangers.org/scholarship!

⁣Tag or share this with someone you think would be interested! 📝Applications are due by April 1st 2021! 🤗⁣⁣

[l2smentalhealth]

Calling all teachers & other experts 🔈 ⁣

We're Hiring Expert Consultants!⁣

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Know a teacher, pedagogy expert, or medical/science communication professional in your life? Maybe you are one yourself ! To bring our award-winning world’s first Youth-for-Youth Mental Health Guidebook 📔 (available via our website at letterstostrangers.org) to more schools around the world, we’re creating a supplementary teacher’s handbook - and we’d love your expertise to make this happen. Learn more and apply now ✏through Careers at Letters to Strangers (via letterstostrangers.org/career) , or share the opportunity with someone in your life 😊! ⁣

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[l2smentalhealth]

Hello everyone! 👋⁣

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We know that college EA/ED results are coming out soon or have come out already, and that this can be a particularly stressful time especially in a year like 2020. We've been through the process too and we know how you might be feeling. Today, we just want to send you some love and a gentle reminder that YOU ARE ENOUGH and YOU MATTER 💛! No matter what results come out that doesn't change who you are and what you are capable of doing 💪. Every one of you has so much potential and shine, don't forget that 🤩! ⁣

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[l2smentalhealth]

🧸Happy World Children's Day 🎉!⁣⁣

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World Children's Day was first introduced in 1954 and is celebrated annually on November 20th to promote awareness about children's welfare and rights. Today is the day to celebrate 🎊 and also take action for imagining and building a better future for every child 💛!⁣⁣

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With 50% of mental illness beginning by age 14, it’s more imperative than ever that we take care of our youths. Join our youth-for-youth mental health movement today via link in bio 🔝!⁣

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[l2smentalhealth]

✨ We reached over 1000 letter submissions on our Online Letter Writing Platform 🎉! Thank you all for making this possible and we're so amazed by all the beautiful letters we've received 🤩.⁣⁣

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If you haven't checked out our platform yet, link via our website at letterstostrangers.org!⁣ Submit a letter, wait for moderation, then receive one back - to and from a stranger 💛⁣

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Reminder that until 11/27, you can vote once per day for our Founder Diana as the 2020 @LOrealParis National Honoree to help us win another $25k for #youth #mentalhealth 😊. Vote now at WomenofWorth.com!⁣⁣

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[l2smentalhealth]

Letters to Strangers needs your support!⁣⁣

Our founder Diana is a @LOrealParis #WomenofWorth honoree 🤩💛! ⁣

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From today through 11/27, you can vote once per day for Diana as the 2020 @LOrealParis National Honoree to help us win another $25k for #youth #mentalhealth. Vote now at WomenofWorth.com!⁣

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[l2smentalhealth]

Letters to Strangers is hiring and we would love to have you on our team 🤩!⁣

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We're looking for the following paid positions:⁣

1) Volunteer Coordinator⁣

2) Videographer/Animator⁣

3) Medical Counsel

4) Legal Counsel

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More details can be found via letterstostrangers.org/career. We also have roles for anyone who is interested in volunteering ✋!⁣

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[l2smentalhealth]

✨ Happy International Youth Day! 💫⁣⁣

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August 12th is International Youth Day. It is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the voices, actions, and initiatives, as well as the impact taken on and created by young people all around the world. Youth participation in our society is not only necessary but also inspirational and impactful! ⁣⁣

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The theme of this years International Youth Day (according to the UN) is “Youth Engagement for Global Action”. It intends to shed light on the ways in which youth engagement at all levels, whether it be local, national, or global, have been enriching ⁣⁣and meaningful. We should not undermine the action and impact that young people can have and create simply because they are young, we should lift them up and create more conversation around youth engagement for global action!⁣⁣

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⁣📝 Letters to Strangers is a global youth-for-youth nonprofit organization seeking to destigmatize mental illness and increase access to affordable and quality care for youth (and all ages as well!). Being youth-run is a core part of our identity and how we work. From conversations and letter writing ✍ among youths to peer education 📚 and policy-based advocacy 💬, we hope to foster connections and change started by youths for other youths. ⁣Join us by checking out our website at letterstostrangers.org

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[l2smentalhealth]

✨It’s #NationalHappinessHappensDay!🌻✨Today, it’s all about sharing #joy. Even if joy feels impossible, especially during a difficult time like this, we want you to remember that happiness *does* happen, and that pain isn’t forever. ❤️ If you need support, please don’t hesitate to check out our website’s resources page, accessible via link in bio! 🙌🏼 We are happy you are here and we want everyone to have the chance at happiness, too. 😊⁣

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Tag someone who makes happiness happen for you! 🚀 -- Want more inspiring content? 👀 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram @L2SMentalHealth and see how you can join the #mentalhealthmatters mission today by visiting our website at www.letterstostrangers.org

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[l2smentalhealth]

COVID-19 & Mental Health Impacts in Zimbabwe ⁣

"Covid-19 has increased the risk factors of mental disorders, mainly depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. The nationwide lock down has stimulated overwhelming feelings of sadness, worry, fear, restless, fatigue, separation anxiety, and social anxiety. The youth that used to build their positivity and curiosity in recreational outdoor activities are now locked in their houses." ⁣

The impacts of Covid-19 have been huge on the mental wellness and health of youths. 📚 Read more about the effects of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe specifically and how you can support ✊ the Letters to Strangers+Zimbabwe Chapter (@l2szimbabwe) in their efforts to alleviate the stressors of the COVID-19 crisis! (Blog can be found here⁣ 👉 https://www.letterstostrangers.org/single-post/COVID-19-Mental-Health-Impacts-in-Zimbabwe)

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[l2smentalhealth]

"being open about your mental illness is part of erasing stigma, but give yourself permission to take things at your own pace" ⁣

-Youth for Youth Mental Health Guidebook 📔 (p.412)⁣

Who you share your story to and when you want to do it are _your_ decisions to make! 💛

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[prettypositivity]

you’re not a failure just because you’re not where you thought you’d be by now