YOUR EGO IS NOT YOUR AMIGO

To learn more about Crisis Text Line and ways to get more involved you can go to www.crisistextline.org

Designed by Aley Wild (@aley.wild) for World Mental Health Day. 50% of profits will be donated to Crisis Text Line

I'm a queer, traveling illustrator/artful scallywag, born in San Francisco and based in Sydney. I use bright palettes and energetic shapes to create un-contained, playful figures. My work focuses on positivity, inclusivity, and embodiment.

I saw "your ego is not your amigo" scrawled on the wall of a Berlin club I danced at this Summer. It struck a chord, got stuck in my head, and inspired me to make this tee because I believe it to be true.

My ego awakening started by reading The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle. It teaches you to be present in the moment by stepping out of your mind (ego) and into your body (being). 10/10 would recommend to anyone struggling with mental health.

When animals go through a traumatic experience (like almost getting eaten), they go somewhere and shake their bodies to expel the trauma and calm down before returning to the herd. So whenever I feel stressed or something really shitty just happened, I dance it out and shake the feeling out of my body. I also have the privilege of seeing an excellent therapist regularly, which unfortunately isn't available to everyone. I wander around outside and commune with plants. I invest in strong relationships with some extremely cool friends I've met all over the world, and I'm very fortunate to have a job I love that allows me to express myself creatively. I try to connect with art and places that inspire me and keep me curious.

It really depends on the generation. Young people tend to be more open, but it's still stigmatized to maintain and talk about mental health out in the open, especially for men. In Australia there's a macho culture where men aren't encouraged to be emotionally vulnerable, leading to trends of isolation, depression, violence, and suicide. The highest suicide rates are among older, rural men. There's some minimal therapy available through public healthcare, but it could be way more robust.