Heart of a Community

Valentine’s day is a day for hearts, roses and being with your significant other; but it can be tough for those spending it alone. A day celebrating romantic love when you’re feeling alone and unlovable can be a struggle, but hearts aren’t only a symbol for lovers, they can also remind you you’re part of a community and you aren’t as alone as you feel. We spoke with Mitch Wallis, founder of Heart on my Sleeve, about his early intervention mental health initiative ahead of Valentine’s Day to find out more about the work he’s doing to help people feel less alone.

Photo of Mitch Wallis, Founder of Heart on my Sleeve.

Heart on my Sleeve is a leader in the global conversation for mental health. This organisation advocates for looking at solutions as well as the problem of widespread mental health issues. The organisation was founded by Wallis in 2017, after a Facebook video went viral. In the video, Wallis shared his struggle with mental health, shattering the illusion of his perfect life as a jetting setting businessman working with Microsoft.

“A few years ago I started to consider the true sustainability of my life. I shared that on social media and it ended up going viral, reaching over a million people in a week, starting a global movement where people around the world started drawing and tattooing hearts on their arms and sharing their story. That's how Heart on my Sleeve was born.”

In just over two years Heart on my Sleeve has become one of the fastest growing mental health organisations in Australia. With almost a quarter of all people experiencing mental health issues and suicide rates rising, it is time to stop telling people it’s okay to not be okay and start showing them, as Wallis did in his viral video.

“Heart on my Sleeve is trying to (no pun intended) get into the heart of the conversation, understanding the clinical dialogue on how to get better but first – meeting people where they are by trying to understand their pain and make them feel heard. Evaporate that feeling of loneliness.” 

With the significant growth of the movement, Heart on my Sleeve has transcended a movement and become a full-service provider. They encourage people to tell their story, have information on where to go and how to get help, and have conversations around how people can support others who are struggling. Heart on my Sleeve aims to help Australians become more healthy individuals and double the health-seeking rate from 30 percent to 60 percent in the next five years. 

“I am so humbled and grateful that we have built such a strong and generous community of people that aim to achieve great things and help one another get through life challenges.”

According to Wallis, Heart on my Sleeve advocates action-based conversations and encouraging proactive solutions. It is all well and good to identify you’re not okay, but seeking help is something many people struggle with. Wallis and others want mental health to evolve from something we can just talk about to something we can change.

“People send us messages saying whenever they look down at their tattoo, they know they are not alone. It’s things like this that really make us feel good and know what we're doing is working.”

Many have committed tattooing hearts on their sleeves, identifying themselves as part of a community of people suffering from mental health and calling for change in the way we deal with conversations around mental health. 

With no way of knowing what his video would come to inspire, Wallis has created a platform to open the airways of conversation and encourage change in the way we approach mental health. His organisation has encouraged people to speak up about their suffering and to seek help as well as offer support for others suffering from mental health issues. 

If you or someone you know needs help, call:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14

• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 468

WORDS: KAYLA GASKELL
PHOTOGRAPHY: JUDE BECK ON UNSPLASH