The Sad Girls Club (Instagram @sadgirlsblubpbg), founded by filmmaker and mental health activist Elyse Fox, is both a social media and in-real-life support system for those struggling with mental illness.

 

It is currently based in New York, and the club hosts meetings and poetry slams periodically. According to the Instagram page, the Sad Girls Club is “here to create a community within the world of mental health & ignite conversations amongst millennials worldwide.”

 

“I wanted to create something for girls to connect in real life and in person to get rid of the stigma around mental illness. I'm a first-generation Caribbean woman. The topic of mental illness was never discussed in my home. I never had the outlook or knew how to speak about it. I put out a film in December removing my mask and saying, 'Hey, I'm not as happy as I seem, I'm depressed and here's my story.' That’s when I received a wave of girls saying, 'I feel the same way.' From there I made it my mission to create something,” said Fox in an interview with Teen Vogue.

 

The Sad Girls Club posts messages of positivity, tips and day-to-day things that have helped Fox deal with anxiety and depression herself. Visitors of the Instagram page are welcomed to post what helps them cope in the comments section.

 

The outlet for discussion surrounding mental health stigma and coping mechanisms has made the Sad Girls Club a great beginning to recovery for many women, especially women of color. Fox realized she was having problems when she couldn’t enjoy moments the same way that her friends could. For example, during prom season in high school, she was lethargic and detached, wanting to just stay home. After struggling with her inner self for nearly 20 years, Fox made a documentary about her depression. After sharing it on Vimeo, she got followers from across the globe who felt they could finally share their story.

 

Fox recommends talking to someone and getting help from someone who will listen if you are experiencing thoughts of negativity or self-harm. If you don’t have someone like that in your life, or if you just want someone to talk to, the Sad Girls Club is here for you.

 

The next Sad Girls Club event is this Saturday, September 30. The meeting location is 16 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10011. You can register for the meeting here.

You can visit the Sad Girls Club Instagram here.

And Elyse Fox’s instagram here.

You can visit the Sad Girls Club website at sadgirlsclub.org