clock: Elmo continues to support people’s mental health
For more than 50 years, “Sesame Street” has taught valuable life lessons to generations, and now it continues to deliver on that mission with a new initiative through the nonprofit Sesame Workshop.
Earlier this year, Elmo, a popular character from the television series, had a moment that went viral on social media after asking a seemingly simple question.
“Elmo is just checking in. How’s everyone doing?” the iconic character wrote in a post shared on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) and Threads in January. wrote.
The post received more than 217 million views on X alone, and was flooded with emotional responses from users who opened up about their situations.
One person replied: “Honestly Elmo. I need a hug,” while another wrote: “I shouldn’t have been in such a rush to grow up. I need a break.” [,] Big man. ”
The conversation helped draw attention to the country’s adult mental health crisis.
Read more: Why Elmo’s tweets are trending on the internet
In an interview that aired on “Good Morning America” Wednesday, Robin Roberts visited Elmo in her sunny neighborhood to discuss the topic of the virus.
Elmo told Roberts he was “really surprised” by the fans’ response to his question.
“Some people were very happy, but others were feeling really bad,” Elmo said.
In an interview with GMA, Elmo’s friend Dr. Rosemary Truglio of Sesame Workshop joined in the conversation to discuss the topic of mental health among fans.
“We know there is a mental health crisis and it’s important to express your emotions,” she explained. “We meet the needs of children today, and we wanted to ensure our stories and resources are there to help children and their circles of care.”
This initiative by Sesame Workshop, which launched on May 1, provided new mental health resources with practical strategies for children who are feeling overwhelmed. is also useful for people of all ages.
One technique is to make a jar of glitter. The glitter inside the bottle symbolizes the child’s feelings swirling inside. It has a calming effect on the child as they watch the glow subside.
“The glow represents all the big emotions that we carry inside,” Truglio explained. “So when you’re taking deep breaths, you’re able to focus on something.”
“Anyone can make a glitter jar,” she added, noting that the public can access new resources on the nonprofit’s website, including animations and guides for parents and caregivers. here.
