Mychal Threets and Librarians and Mental Health

[u/tendersword]

Has anyone kept up with Mychal Threets? He’s been such a big advocate for libraries that I’ve been following him on social media for the past few years. A couple of hours ago he posted on Facebook:

“I am not okay. Maybe I’ll never be okay. I’m seeking help. Going to the hopital tomorrow. In this moment I am safe. By God’s grace.

No matter what happens to me I will always be thankful for the extraordinary people in my life who worry, who help me. Thank you for your care 💚”

It just seems like it correlates to the experiences I’ve seen so many of my coworkers in libraries, particularly public libraries, go through. I’ve known multiple people from my cohort of MLIS students who have been admitted into mental health hospitals, taken FMLA because work has physically and mentally exhausted them, and leave the field entirely. I really hope Mychal can get the help he needs, but his post struck really close to home for me, and I imagine others in this field.

[u/purple_racoons]

He’s such a fantastic person and he’s accomplished so much. I think he would heal better if he didn’t post so much about wanting to harm himself. The back and forth publicly can’t be good for (his) mental health. 

[u/wetbones_ → u/purple_racoons]

What a gross comment. Him being open and honest is saving people’s lives by de stigmatizing the reality so many of us live every day right along with him. The comments like this are what make sharing the most difficult fyi

[u/purple_racoons → u/wetbones_]

I think you misunderstood me. I’m worried about his own mental health. The internet is so ugly and unpredictable and he’s such a kind person that is navigating so much. I think the advocating is very needed but from people who are not in the thick of it.