How To Make Mental Health Awareness Ribbons by ​
Andi Chrisman Impact The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is local state and national organization focused on promoting mental health recovery through support education and advocacy. This involves supporting the individual and their family but also educating the community about the reality of mental health and its presence at all levels of our society. Like physical health, mental health is a spectrum impacting every individual. The more we as a society recognize the need to treat our mental health as seriously as our physical health, the more opportunity we allow our friends and family to receive the treatment and support they need. Towards community education, these green ribbons represent the color of mental health awareness month. Wearing a ribbon provides the wearer an opportunity to show support to those in the community dealing with mental health challenges as well as a conversation starter if someone doesn’t recognize it. Your support allows us to provide our members, friends and allies in the community with ribbons for free. Supply List
⬧ Lime green ribbon, usually ⅜” wide Most stores have a variety of ribbons you can buy: some with polka dots, stitching up the side, zebra print, and more. Avoid the ribbons with sheer in them as the glue will make them look messy. ⬧ Flat­backed safety pins (¾” wide) Safety pins are the standard, but you can glue these ribbons to anything: magnets, posters, and more. There are also a variety of safety pin types available, but I recommend the flat­backed. ⬧ E6000 or QuickGrip Glue Do not substitute a weaker glue or the safety pins will come off quickly.. Hot glue guns may be used as a last resort, but are very difficult due to the heat and stringiness of the glue. ⬧ Clear School Glue ⬧ Work surface Covering (newspaper, paper towels, cardstock) ⬧ Wet Wipes Optional things that might help, but aren’t required ⬧ Toothpicks (for delicate work or to remove extra glue) ⬧ Scrap paper (for removing glue) ⬧ Goo Gone (if the glue is leaking out of the ribbon) ⬧ Q­Tips or Cotton Balls to apply Goo Gone Step One ⬧ Cut a suitable length of ribbon. I happened to cut mine to 5 inches, but you can decide how large you want your finished ribbon. Standard ribbon pins are 4­5 inches. Step Two ⬧ Fold the ribbon into an awareness position. This is easiest was to do this is by holding the ends and crossing your left hand under your right hand, without turning the ribbon in either direction. Step Three ⬧ Note the place where the two bands overlap. Put some E6000/QuickGrip glue on the spot on the under layer and hold closed with your fingers for one minute. Wipe off any excess with paper towels, toothpicks, Q­tips, or scrap paper. Step Four ⬧ Cut a sharp upwards angle from the inside corner of the ribbon end to the outer edge at a higher level, like shown. Step Five ⬧ Place a small dab of school glue on your scrap paper. Dip the edges of your ribbon in and use your fingers or whatever you’d like to smooth out the ends and prevent fraying. Step Six ⬧ Hold the ribbon and allow to air dry for one minute. Step Seven ⬧ Place the ribbon face­down to the back is facing up and the ends are off the covering. . Put a small stream of E6000/QuickGrip Glue down and press the flat side of your safety pin on the ribbon. Hold in place for one minute. You can either place the safety pin with the ribbon like below or straight up and down for easier placement on the wearer’s clothes, as long as the pin stays hidden. I find that keeping the opening of the clasp upwards makes it easier for the wearer to place .
Step Eight ⬧ Allow to dry, face down, with the ribbon edges not pressed against a surface (a table edge is good for this). After ten minutes, make sure the pin is working correctly and that it didn’t get any glue on it. Let sit for 30 min total before packing up and recommend waiting 24 hours before putting it on anything.