In recent years, wearing different colored bracelets has emerged as a way to raise awareness for various mental health conditions. Each color represents support for a specific mental health issue or cause. This allows people to subtly display solidarity and promote open discussion through their accessory choices. Understanding what each color means can help spread awareness.
History
The practice of wearing colored bracelets to support a cause gained popularity in 2004. This was sparked by the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s iconic yellow Livestrong bracelets for cancer. The succcess of this bracelet inspired many other colored bracelets connected to different causes.
Mental health colored bracelets started emerging in the late 2000s. At first, there were just a few known colors like orange for ADHD and green for anxiety. Over time, the variety has greatly expanded to encapsulate many different mental health conditions. Wearing these bracelets helps reduce stigma and shows support for loved ones struggling with mental illness.
Common Mental Health Color Meanings
Here are some of the most common colors used for mental health bracelets and what they represent:
| Color | Meaning |
| Orange | ADHD |
| Green | Anxiety |
| Turquoise | Eating disorders |
| Purple | Alzheimer’s |
| Blue | Depression |
| Pink | Breast cancer |
| Teal | Ovarian cancer |
| Red | HIV/AIDS |
The color orange is associated with ADHD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. This mental health condition involves difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. The vibrant orange color represents the struggle those with ADHD can face with staying focused and contained.
Green is the color most commonly linked to anxiety disorders. This includes general anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, OCD, and panic disorders. The green hue is thought to symbolize feelings of nausea some people with anxiety experience. It also represents growth and renewal as people work to overcome anxiety.
Turquoise bracelets are worn to raise awareness about eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Turquoise represents open communication about these challenging illnesses that get minimized and hidden by society. The color connects to turquoise gemstones believed to aid inner reflection and calm.
Purple bracelets represent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This irreversible condition involves severe memory loss and cognitive decline. The purple color represents the mystery surrounding brain diseases and the wisdom that deteriorates with Alzheimer’s progression.
Light blue is the color chosen for depression. This mood disorder makes people feel persistently sad, empty, hopeless, or worthless. The cool blue hue evokes the gloominess and loneliness depression can lead to. Blue represents openness to discuss this complex mental illness.
Besides mental illnesses, colored bracelets also support other health causes. Pink bracelets symbolize breast cancer, while teal bracelets are for ovarian cancer. Red bracelets with loops are worn to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. The meanings behind each color help display solidarity.
Less Common Mental Health Color Meanings
In addition to the most widely recognized colors, there are some less common colors used to represent specific mental health disorders and issues:
| Color | Meaning |
| White | Bone cancer |
| Gold | Childhood cancer |
| Silver | Brain cancer |
| Plum | Pancreatic cancer |
| Peach | Endometriosis |
| Lime Green | Lyme Disease |
| Burgundy | Multiple Sclerosis |
| Black | Melanoma skin cancer |
While not as widely recognized, white can symbolize bone cancer, gold represents childhood cancer, and silver stands for brain cancer. Other colors include plum for pancreatic cancer, peach for endometriosis, lime green for Lyme disease, and burgundy for multiple sclerosis. Black bracelets are also sometimes worn in support of melanoma skin cancer.
Here are some less common mental health condition meanings:
– Red, white, and blue: PTSD – The colors represent patriotism and many veterans dealing with PTSD.
– Yellow: Suicide awareness and prevention – Yellow is the color of hope and light in the darkness of suicide.
– Gray: Autism spectrum disorder – Represents the uniqueness and complexity of people with autism.
– Brown: Anti-tobacco and lung disease – Discourages tobacco use and promotes lung health.
– Coral: Mental health general awareness – Raises overall awareness for mental health issues.
– Rainbow: LGBTQ+ mental health – Supports the higher risk LGBTQ+ population.
Though less recognized, these colors help expand mental health support through bracelets. The rainbow option encompasses all identities and conditions.
Wearing Mental Health Bracelets
Here are some tips for wearing colored bracelets to support mental health awareness:
– Match the color to the specific mental health issue you want to support, whether for yourself or a loved one. This helps other people immediately understand what the bracelet stands for.
– Consider wearing multiple colored bracelets together to represent different mental health conditions. This shows broad support for mental health.
– Research colors not on this list to find less common meanings. The diversity of colors keeps growing to represent more illnesses.
– When asked about your bracelet, take the opportunity to have an open discussion about mental health with others. This reduces stigma.
– Look for bracelets made from eco-friendly or recycled materials for sustainability. There are many affordable options.
– Join online mental health communities to discover new bracelet meanings and order custom bracelets.
Wearing colored bracelets provides a simple, visual way to start powerful conversations about mental health. The opportunity to educate others and advocate reduces harmful stigmas.
Making Your Own Mental Health Bracelets
You can also make your own meaningful mental health bracelets at home through different DIY methods. Here are a few options:
Beaded bracelets:
– Purchase beads in the color(s) matching your mental health cause. Take elastic string and tie knots to secure beads in place.
– Use letter beads to spell out words like “Hope” or “Strength.” Add mental health colored beads between letters.
Thread bracelets:
– Cut threads or yarn in your chosen color(s). Tie threads together and braid into a bracelet.
– For a looped bracelet, wrap threads around four fingers and tie ends together.
Ribbon bracelets:
– Take ribbon in your mental health color and size your wrist.
– Tie a knot against your wrist, trim excess ribbon, and secure knot with glue.
– For a ribbon slide bracelet, glue ribbon ends around a bead or rhinestone.
Paracord bracelets:
– Use YouTube tutorials to braid paracord into a sturdy bracelet using your color(s).
– Melt cord ends with a lighter and press together to seal bracelet.
DIY allows complete customization for mental health support. Give bracelets to friends and family to spread awareness.
Conclusion
Colored bracelets are an impactful symbol of solidarity and awareness for mental health disorders. The growing diversity of colors creates a “language” that conveys support for different conditions and identities. Wearing a mental health bracelet shows you are informed, spreads awareness, and promotes open conversation. This reduces harmful stigmas surrounding mental illness. With many places to order bracelets and fun DIY techniques, you can easily create and rock your own custom mental health bracelet.
