Mental Health Symbols: Their Meanings and Role in Mental Health Awareness

Mental health has come a long way. It has moved from being stigmatized to having symbols that raise awareness and signify healing, resilience, and growth. These symbols may not mean everything - but they mean something.

At NuView Treatment Center, we recognize this. In this article, we will explore mental health symbols, what they mean, and what they can mean for you in your healing and recovery.

Here are some of the most common mental health recovery symbols. You may have already come across them, but here is a clearer understanding of what they mean.

The Green Ribbon

The green ribbon is the universal symbol of mental health awareness. As mental health is a field that is still kept under wraps and stigmatized in many societies, it serves to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and foster empathy.

The Butterfly

When we see a butterfly, we see something beautiful. But we rarely stop to regard the journey it has undertaken to get there. The fact that a butterfly emerges from the cocoon signifies mental health healing and recovery - a kind of transformation.

The Semicolon

The semicolon is almost literary in its significance to the field of mental health. It is a punctuation mark that indicates there is a continuation to come. The sentence does not end there. The semicolon indicates that a person could have put a question mark or a full stop; they did not. They chose to persevere and continue on this journey.

The Lotus Flower

The lotus flower blooms in the most challenging conditions. It can be surrounded by muddy waters and still rise above them to look pure and beautiful, so much so that a person looking can become enchanted by its very presence. Yet, it does not mean we ignore its surroundings. It means there is a tangible chance to grow and bloom despite challenging conditions - this is what mental health healing offers.

The Infinity Symbol

Mental health healing is not a one-and-done step. It is a journey that is rarely ever linear. There will be ups and downs, and we cannot ignore them just because we want to focus on the silver lining. It is a journey - but it is also a journey toward growth and resilience.

The Phoenix

A phoenix is a mythical bird, but if we know one thing about it - it is that it rises from the ashes. A rebirth. Similarly, the mental health journey is also marked by renewal and rebirth as one moves from anxiety, depression, trauma, co-occurring substance use, or other struggles toward healing and a healthier life. It is as significant as a rebirth.

The Anchor

An anchor is a heavy metal device that is lowered from a boat or a ship to keep it from drifting away because of waves, winds, or storms. Similarly, in the field of mental health recovery, the anchor signifies resilience, grounding, and stability during turbulent times.

Medusa

In Greek mythology, Medusa is a vastly misunderstood figure who was demonized despite being a victim of violation and a survivor of trauma. The symbol is typically worn as a tattoo to signify a rejection of stigma and victim-blaming, especially among survivors of sexual assault and violence. It denotes the transformation of pain to power.

The Potentilla

The potentilla is a flowering plant used as a floral symbol for mental health recovery, strength, and resilience. It serves as a reminder of a person’s capacity to endure, heal, and overcome psychological or emotional struggles.

There are many universal mental health recovery symbols, and we have touched upon the major ones. But this does not end with the symbols the world has created.

You can create your own symbol to signify what your mental health healing and recovery journey has personally meant to you. It can be anything that becomes you. Or, you can also redefine what the universal symbols we have spoken about mean to you - how they have touched you, and how they can meet you where you are.

At NuView, we do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to your recovery - we believe in personalizing your journey to healing in a way that is relevant to you and your needs. No two people are the same, and no two recoveries can be either.

This is why our team personalizes our structured outpatient programs - partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and telehealth options to your symptoms, history, and goals to ensure you receive the care you need and deserve.

If you wish to learn more about how we tailor our healing programs to your needs, you can call us at (323) 307-7997 - our team is always here to answer your queries and concerns.