Surrounding the silhouette are the words, “It is okay to ask for help.” These words are deeply meaningful to me because they are something I have both told others and have needed to hear myself. They serve as a reminder that reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. I also chose to have the words fade out, as if to symbolize what happens when someone does not ask for help and begins slipping away without knowing where to turn.

The central image of my block is a silhouette, which I designed with several layers of meaning. I positioned the head looking upward to represent hope and the idea of men looking toward the help they need rather than holding everything inside. It also suggests the possibility of looking forward into a new light, symbolizing growth and recovery. For the fabric, I selected a pattern that reminded me of static. To me, this texture represents the way mental health struggles can feel—like noise, emptiness, and disconnection when someone is left alone with their thoughts.

 I included the statistic that less than 50% of men seek help after being diagnosed with a mental health condition. I chose this because it struck me as both shocking and eye-opening, and I felt it captured the seriousness of the problem. I also decided to stitch the words by hand, making them look imperfect and intentional. This choice symbolizes the idea that healing is a personal process; seeking help is not about perfection, but about taking steps toward fixing oneself.