Mental health clothing is my jam.

You should know by now that I’m really into talking about my mental illness. In fact, I think it’s pretty darn important that we ALL talk about it. We’ve been conditioned to stay silent on the subject for so long that we now need to shout EXTRA LOUD to make sure the world hears us when we say mental illness is real, and it needs to be taken seriously.

There are many ways you can choose to wear your mental illness on your sleeve. I suggest you wear it with pride. You’re a warrior, a strong-minded individual who is not defined by your diagnosis and if you’re comfortable, I urge you to start a conversation about mental illness.

What better way to wear it than on a fricking kick-ass t-shirt?

This black t-shirt from Keep Real is subtle and so it’s perfect if you’re not confident wearing your label just yet. The Keep Real range is full of inspiring products which quietly promote emotional well being.

The ethos of ‘keeping it real’ is something I wholly subscribe to, so I adore the idea of wearing their emblem on my chest as a reminder to be honest with myself. They aim to source ethically sound materials for their clothes as well as recyclable and biodegradable packaging.

If you haven’t heard of The Crybaby Club then head over and check out their store. I found them on Instagram last year and instantly felt part of the community, so much so that I ended up writing a guest post on their blog about being an introvert in a new city.

Since then I’ve spent hours lusting over their t-shirts, pins and apparel whilst feeling uplifted by their overarching message; It’s OK to be a crybaby.

This tough and tender t-shirt is sold out at the moment but here’s my current favourite alternative!

Heads Above The Waves is a not-for-profit organisation that raises awareness of depression and self-harm in young people. They promote positive, creative ways of dealing with the bad days.

This hoodie was inspired by Alan Watts who said “I have realised that the past and future are real illusions – that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is”.

Hoodies are essential garments for me. Although I’m all for reclaiming my mental illness with confidence, I still have those days where I want to be enveloped in comfort. This soft hoodie is exactly what I need on those days!

I’m always banging on about being an introvert, mainly because I only realised I was one less than a year ago. This Introvert Girl Gang t-shirt from Shop Luella number one on my wish list because I want everyone to know that I’m not rude, I’m just introverted!

Looking for specific tips on how to manage your self-care as an introvert? Check out this blog post where I explain why creativity is key and how it helped me get my self-care routine sorted out once and for all.

Wear Your Label have been flying the flag for mental illness for a few years now. Started by two friends who had their own mental health struggles, you can really feel that the creators understand how difficult it is to talk about mental illness.

I talk about negative body image a lot, and I’m still a work in progress when it comes to loving the skin I’m in. Just because you’re not fully ‘there’ with your self-love doesn’t meant you can’t still be an activist on the subject though.

I believe sometimes you just have to fake it til you make it. I’m continually ignoring the negative voices in my head and trying to amplify the positive thoughts, so have this t-shirt on hand for the bad days is a plan I need to put into action.

Model Felicity Hayward has been kicking arse in front of the camera for several years now by being bold, beautiful and proud of her body. She’s embodied her ethos in a range of t-shirts plastered with the “self love brings beauty” slogan and quirky illustration.

I love the image of hands creating a heart, because it really drives home the idea that you are in control of your own self-image. It shouldn’t be dictated by the way others see you, or how certain body types are portrayed in the media.

As long as you can learn to treat yourself with care, you’ll feel beauty from within.

Mental illness merchandise

I’m not going to lie, looking at this inspiring lot has got me more than a little bit tempted to start working on my own mental health clothing to sell online. In fact, I might just make a batch for me to wear myself! Are there any areas of mental illness that you feel are particularly marginalised and need to be put in the spotlight?

My Scottish pals will be pleased to know that there’s a new outlet for t-shirt printing in Glasgow called Printsome who have kindly sponsored this post. They offer free shipping on all orders and will print anything from 10 to 10,000 items catered to your specific needs. They also have a blimmin’ good selection of t-shirts, hoodies, bags and hats.

How will you choose to wear your mental illness? I’d love to know in the comments below!