Live Free 999, a nonprofit founded by the mother of the late Juice WRLD, is commemorating Mental Health Awareness Month with the launch of a new testimonial campaign.
Announced Monday, the 999 Stories of Mental Health campaign is aimed at encouraging the sharing of mental health stories on social media using the #999Stories hashtag. Those who wish to share their story anonymously can do so via the nonprofit’s official site.
“Jarad had a very special way of connecting with his fans through his music, and I think a lot of that comes from how open and honest his lyrics are,” Juice’s mother, Carmela Wallace, said in a statement released Monday. “When young people feel like they don’t have an outlet to talk about their struggles, they shut down and isolate themselves. My goal for Live Free 999 and 999 Stories of Mental Health is to create a safe space for people to share their stories so they know they aren’t alone.”
Campaign merch designed by Eli Hollens will also be available as part of the 999 Stories initiative, with all net proceeds going toward organizations focused on mental health support. The overarching goal of 999 Stories, per a press release, is to establish a “virtual storytelling chain of community and support” for those struggling with mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Month first began in 1949 and has since served as an annual effort focused on continuing to destigmatize the issue, which has taken on an even greater importance during the pandemic era. Wallace’s Live Free 999, meanwhile, has been at the forefront of a number of initiatives since Juice’s accidental overdose death in 2019, including partnering with Crisis Text Line to provide access to free counseling last year.
If you are currently struggling with mental health, know that you are not alone. Help is available. In addition to texting HOME to 741741 to speak with a volunteer crisis counselor via the Crisis Text Line, other options are also available.
