Gentle Mentals are anthropomorphic animals with real issues. We might even call them therapy animals. They allow us as humans to step back, relate, and see mental illness without judgment. They carry the burden of the label so we don’t have to. The best part is that they don’t mind because, well, they’re not real. We’re a cruelty-free zone here. 

One in four people in the world experiences a mental illness. But it's still considered a dark topic. We want to change that. Stigma is the darkness that disempowers people to get the help they need; people quietly suffering—or worse, lives lost. We created these relatable animals with issues to lighten this heavy conversation, using cuteness and humor as the ice-breaker. If we can speak more openly about something that touches so many, we'll all be better for it.

Our mission:

To make mental illness less scary and easier to talk about.

• To soften the stigma of mental illness.

• To make someone smile and say, "Hey, that's me!"

• To help create a kinder and gentler view of mental health for ourselves and others.

Whether you or someone you love has been affected by mental illness, we hope our "therapy animals" can help. By playfully opening up the conversation about mental illness, we can nudge ourselves towards a path to heal.
 

We get it — labels can be a real problem when used negatively. But labels can also be useful and empowering as well. How so? Well, labels are the entry point to understanding the good, the bad, the ugly. Just words that organize information so that we can dig a little deeper. And when labels are used to ignite a dialogue about real stuff (mental illness,) they can be the catalyst for meaningful connection. So we lean in where others tiptoe. Because walking on eggshells isn’t going to end the stigma — authentic conversations will. And besides, no single label could ever define us, because we’re all made up of thousands.

And since mental challenges can be, well, challenging. Why not use every tool available to feel our best? Exactly. So here are the meat and potatoes, oh, and kale of what we believe.

We nourish to flourish because the food=mood connection is real.

Our Mental Gifts give back.

Mental illness is hard to talk about and can feel heavy, dark, and isolating. And with no existing gifts to be given as a positive gesture to provide support. Gentle Mentals are here to change that. Have a looksy.