Butterfl;es for Better Days

Combining two symbols of hope to encourage those facing mental health challenges.

Our Story

Butterfl;es for Better Days started in ideation one day when we were talking about the Butterfly Project and the symbol of the semicolon (see links below for more info) and how much they mean to us as symbols of hope and suicide and self-harm prevention. Our graphic designer, Rachel Sevy, had the idea to make a butterfly with a semicolon for the body and promised she’d make one someday. She found that many before her had had the same thought, but she decided to take it further. Butterfl;es for Better Days was founded a few months later.

Read More About Us

Project Semicolon

The Butterfly Project

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Monarch semicolon butterfly sweatshirt

Accessories & Stickers

Downloadables/Printables

White butterfly with trail-01

All profits are donated to suicide prevention nonprofits and programs.

White butterfly with trail-01

Make Your Life Better

And change the lives of so many more.

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Have you met Melissa? If you've read "Our Story" o

Have you met Melissa? If you've read "Our Story" on our website you know the essential role she has played in the creation of Butterflies for Better Days! Melissa is an inspiration to all of us for her courage, strength, and hope when facing challenges most of us can't even imagine. Check out the rest of her story by clicking our #linkinbio and going to "Our Story!"

*Note: We are still working on our mobile site, so you may need to click the desktop view for it to work! Stay tuned:)*

#butterfliesforbetterdays #butterflies #semicolon #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #hope #courage #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalwellness

Phone wallpapers are available for sale on our web

Phone wallpapers are available for sale on our website! I know phone wallpapers are easy to come by, so the question may arise: Why would you pay for these ones? There is one simple answer:
Profits for all our sales go to suicide prevention programs. For things that I have to order or print like t-shirts or stickers, not 100% of sales can go to these programs. But these downloadable backgrounds don't cost us anything to make, so 100% of all the sales can go straight to these programs and non-profits! They're only 99 cents!

Go to our online store through the link in our bio!

#butterfliesforbetterdays #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #semicolon #butterfly #butterflies #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #choosetostay

When was the last time you asked "how are you?" an

When was the last time you asked "how are you?" and meant it? When was the last time you followed that question up with another one to see what their answer really meant?

Often, our friends who struggle with hard emotions and mental challenges want to talk about what they're going through but they won't bring it up for fear of dampening the mood, making you sad, being a burden, or being annoying. As much as we encourage them to reach out for help, it's almost unfair for us to expect them to if we never give them an opportunity. The solution is simple! Ask them questions!

#butterfliesforbetterdays #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #semicolon #butterfly #butterflies #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillnessisreal #mentalhealthmatterstoo #anxiety #ocd #ocpd #ptsd #mentalillness #howtohelp #askquestions #questions #helpingothers #helpingpeople

We are beyond excited to announce the release of o

We are beyond excited to announce the release of our first products! Coming soon and available for PRE-ORDER are two of our t-shirt designs! After t-shirts, these designs will also be available for phone cases, wall hangings, stickers, and temporary tattoos. We are also releasing soon a line of downloadable phone wallpaper backgrounds and other downloads!

https://butterflies.photodesignbyrachel.com/shop/ (link in story)

#butterfliesforbetterdays #butterfly #butterflies #semicolon #semicolons #butterflytshirt #mentalhealthawareness #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #butterflysemicolon #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #selfharmprevention #suicideprevention #suicideawareness #suicidalawareness #MentalHealthMonday #mentalhealthmatters #selfharmawareness #mentalillnessawareness #mentalwellness

**All definitions are from https://www.nimh.nih.go

**All definitions are from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ and https://www.merckmanuals.com/. I am not a mental health professional, just someone who cares!**
**To those who experience mental health struggles such as these, please reach out for help! In many cases, talking about your experiences with people who can support you can be so beneficial. This post is to help those who don't experience these challenges and disorders realize that joking about them, or using these serious terms casually, can be insensitive. Mental illness is no joke!**

#butterfliesforbetterdays #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #semicolon #butterfly #butterflies #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillnessisreal #mentalhealthmatterstoo #anxiety #ocd #ocpd #ptsd #anxietyawareness #ptsdawareness #ocdawareness #ocpdawareness #mentalillness

Add your own ideas below ⬇️⬇️ This is some

Add your own ideas below ⬇️⬇️
This is something we've noticed in our own lives and the lives of those we know who face mental illnesses, but if you don't believe it, read this!
https://www.mhanational.org/help-others
If you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness and you're looking for a new coping skill to help you manage them, try this one. It could be what you're looking for!

#butterfliesforbetterdays #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #semicolon #butterfly #butterflies #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillnessisreal #mentalhealthmatterstoo #selfharm #selflove #lifegetsbetter #keeptrying #anxiety #depression #coping #copingskills #copingtools #copingmechanisms #healthycoping #healthycopingskill #healthycopingskills #healthycopingmethod #anxietysymptoms #symptoms

1 in 22 adults report having serious thoughts of s

1 in 22 adults report having serious thoughts of suicide. We all know at least 22 people, do you know which one is suicidal? Take the time to reach out to your friends. You might not ever know what's going on in their minds, but there may come a day when you wish you knew. Take the time to find out today. Send a text. Make a call. Drop off some cookies. Those "1 in 22" should have 21 people to support them. But because of you, they can have at least one.

#butterfliesforbetterdays #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #semicolon #butterfly #butterflies #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillnessisreal #mentalhealthmatterstoo #selfharm #selflove #lifegetsbetter #keeptrying

It can be hard to know how to address people when

It can be hard to know how to address people when you know they're struggling, especially with things as serious as suicidal ideation and suicidality. You may feel afraid of bringing things up, even when you know they're struggling with it, for fear of being wrong or them taking offense, or being hurt - whatever the reason. But one of the BEST things you can do is to be direct.
Ask direct questions and give direct help: "Are you thinking about killing yourself?" "Have you eaten today?" "Are you sleeping?" "I see you haven't gotten _____ done, can I help you do that?" Don't be afraid to be specific. Most of the time they need these things to be brought up, but they're too afraid to do it themselves.

#butterfliesforbetterdays #mentalhealthtips #helpforthosewhocare #howtohelppeople #howtohelppeoplewithdepression #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #semicolon #butterfly #butterflies #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillnessisreal #mentalhealthmatterstoo #selfharm #selflove #lifegetsbetter #keeptrying

Coping skill: writing sticky notes. Use when you'r

Coping skill: writing sticky notes. Use when you're feeling anxious, lonely, self-hatred, suicidal, or any other time when you need to cope.
Part 1: Writing sticky notes for other people. Write sticky notes with encouraging words on them and put them on people's cars or put them up at a public place.
Part 2: Write sticky note reminders for yourself. Write inspirational quotes, things you do well, and things you like (or have liked in the past) about yourself.
Ideas:
"I love you."
"Someone loves you."
"You matter."
"You've got this."
"You're worth it."
"Don't give up yet."
;
"Please stay."
"It gets better, I promise."

#copingskills #howtocare #mentalhealth #mentalillness #mentalhealtawareness #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #coping #stickynotes #selflove #actofservice #anxiety #copingtools #copingtoolbox

Over 700,000 people die from suicide worldwide eac

Over 700,000 people die from suicide worldwide each year*, and in the U.S., someone takes their own life every 11 minutes.**
In contrast, it can take as little as @only7seconds each out to someone and show that you care. That leaves you 10 minutes and 53 seconds to spare! If you're thinking of someone, send them a quick text. If you're not sure how they'll respond, do it anyway. Send them a butterfly emoji. Send them a screenshot of a Pinterest quote. It only takes 7 seconds to save a life.
@only7seconds is a suicide prevention organization that does incredible things to help save lives! If you're looking for uplifting content or ways to help others, check out their social media, their app, and their website.

*As of 2019. Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
**As of 2020. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html

#only7seconds #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawarness #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #suicideprevention #SuicideAwareness

We're starting a post series to help friends of th

We're starting a post series to help friends of those who are faced with mental health challenges of all kinds, and especially for those struggling with more severe depression and suicidality. It can be VERY difficult to know how to respond to your loved ones going through this, and even harder to know how to help. The internet is full of ideas and we've read some fantastic ones that can definitely help! Our goal here is to give tips that will help with more severe things, that go beyond helping people having a bad day. Today we have tip #1:
Be there.
The most important thing is this: what can you do to let that person know you care about them? Is it a simple "how are you?" text? A random emoji? Is it inviting them to something, even though they always say no, just so they know you want them there? All of these things can make a huge difference and can help your friend know that you care. With that being said, let's take it a step further because we all know that sometimes our loved ones need a little bit more.
What if they're having a panic attack?
What if they actively want to hurt themselves and that's all they can think about? Be there.
What if they are suicidal and have a plan? Please, please be there.
Be there in person if you can. Call them if you can't. Text them if you can't call. These times are absolutely CRUICIAL that your friends and loved ones are not alone.
Don't worry about fixing their problems. You can direct them to professionals for that. You being there - that's enough. It means more to them than you know just for them to feel that one person, in the whole big world, cares enough to be there.

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #suicideprevention #howtohelppeople #howtohelppeoplewithdepression #howtohelppeoplewithanxiety #howtocare #mentalillness #MentalHealthMonth #mentalhealthmonth💚

Butterflies for Better Days is based on two import

Butterflies for Better Days is based on two important symbols for mental health awareness and suicide awareness and prevention: the semicolon and the butterfly. In writing, an author uses a semicolon when they could choose to end a sentence but instead keep writing the same sentence. The semicolon has become a well-known symbol of suicide prevention because people who experience suicidal thoughts could choose to end their life, but they decide to keep living. The butterfly is a growing symbol of self-love and protection against self-harm. It comes from tumblr user "momma butterfly" (butterfly-project on Tumblr). The idea is for people who self harm to draw a butterfly instead where they would normally harm themselves and name it after a loved one. If they self-harm, the butterfly dies, providing an extra reason not to hurt themselves.
I came up with the idea for the semicolon-butterfly when I was talking with a friend one day who struggles daily with mental health challenges. I'm a graphic designer, and I told her that one day I'd design her a butterfly with a semicolon for the body. I've done a few little things here and there, but this is me keeping my promise to her.

Butterflies for Better Days will release several items with various semicolon-butterfly designs including t-shirts, phone cases, temporary tattoos, downloadable phone wallpapers, and wall hangings. All sales profits will go directly to suicide prevention programs and non-profits to help save lives! Your support will go directly to those who need it most. Follow this account to be ready for product releases in the next few weeks!

#butterfliesforbetterdays #thebutterflyproject #projectsemicolon #semicolon #butterfly #butterflies #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillnessisreal #mentalhealthmatterstoo #selfharm #selflove #lifegetsbetter #keeptrying

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