Wear Your Green Proudly

The flowers and chocolates have been sent, and February, the month known for love, is coming to an end. Soon March will begin, and four leaf clovers, leprechauns, and rainbows with a pot of gold will cover store shelves in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day. Stores are shifting from colors pink and red, to green.

Green is associated with March because of the holiday St. Patrick’s Day. Many of us are familiar with that surprising pinch received after mistakenly forgetting to wear green on this day. Though green has a tight relationship with St. Patrick’s Day and March, it also has another meaning, especially in the field of mental health.

Green is the color used for awareness in mental health. It is a symbol for mental illnesses, bipolar disorder and depression. Green symbolizes the continual awareness of mental health in order to help fight the stigma that is often associated it. Who can forget NFL football player Brandon Marshall strutting onto the field in bright green shoes this past October in the New York Giants and Chicago Bears game? Marshall continually explained to the public that the buzz created because of his shoes was well worth the fine received because of his uniform violation.

As we enter March and prepare our homes and wardrobes for St. Patty’s Day, I challenge you to think about the deeper meaning of this color. Wear your green proudly this month, and help to build awareness around mental health, which affects millions of people. Share with just one person what this color green also represents. Create your own little buzz.