Shawl Every Day 2021 - Day 25 - Holiday Gift Guide: Mental Health
Shawl pattern is Moonlight Sonata by Shui Kuen Kozinski
Here at Loops of Gray, I try to be as much of a mental health advocate as I can. I’ve got a ton of resources on my site and I’m always willing to talk and share about mental health with the hopes of reducing stigma and encouraging people to share their own stories.
Giving a gift for someone who might be struggling with their mental health can be tricky. They might not be open about their struggles, so you want to take care to be supportive without calling attention to it. You also want to avoid being preachy and overly helpful. It’s good to focus on general items that are helpful to anyone, but especially to someone who might be having a mental health concern.
Craft-Related
Daily Mindful Lettering - I used this book to practice hand lettering but also help incorporate a saying or mantra into my day. The first version focuses on love and affirmation, the second version focuses on peace and calm, and the third version is all about healing. I recommend pairing this with tracing paper and a nice dual-tipped brush pen or a gift card to a local art supply store like Artmart.
Mindfulness Coloring Book - This and other “adult” coloring books are great for de-stressing, mindfulness, and relaxing. These pair well with nice colored pencils, such as Prismacolor.
Learn to Crochet Kit - Knitting and crochet have both been shown to help with mental health. A kit is a great way to get started.
Self-Care
Self-care is extremely important, especially around the holidays. There is a lot going on and it can be easy to forget to take time for ourselves. Self-care can look different for everyone, but these items are a good start if you aren’t sure what to get specifically.
Bath Bomb - These are extremely popular self-care items. A bath helps you relax and focus on yourself.
Self-Care Sticker Book - This book of stickers is super useful for people who do a lot with planners or journals. They can be daily reminders to put yourself first and celebrate who you are.
Candles - They just smell nice and make you feel better. :)
Tea - Tea is another popular self-care item. While I don’t drink tea myself, I have purchased tea from Adagio Teas for others and they have enjoyed everything from their shop.
What NOT To Get
It’s equally important in a mental health holiday gift guide to mention what not to get someone who might be struggling or has a mental health concern. Some things can do more harm than good and are not actually supportive.
Faux self-help books that aren’t rooted in science or good faith
“Inspirational” anything or things with pithy quotes
Anything that calls out their condition specifically
