NeuroDivine

September may have passed, but the green ribbon remains pinned to my collar—and to my conscience.

The Green Ribbon Campaign, led by Shine, is Ireland’s most visible movement to challenge the stigma around mental health. Each year, thousands wear the ribbon as a quiet but powerful symbol of openness, compassion, and solidarity. This year’s theme, “Step Up to Stamp Out Stigma,” called us to action—and I’m not stepping down just because the calendar page has turned.

🧠 Mental Health Doesn’t Follow a Calendar

Mental health journeys don’t begin on the first of September and resolve by the thirtieth. They ebb and flow, often quietly, often invisibly. For many of us—especially those navigating neurodivergence, chronic illness, or emotional complexity—mental health is not a seasonal concern. It’s a daily reality.

That’s why I continue to wear the ribbon. Not as a leftover from last month’s campaign, but as a living reminder: the conversation must continue.

🕊️ A Symbol of Listening

In a world that often rushes past quiet suffering, the green ribbon says, “I see you.” It’s not loud. It doesn’t demand attention. But it invites connection. It signals that I’m open to listening—not just to words, but to silences, hesitations, and the courage it takes to speak at all.

For those of us who live with layered identities—neurodivergent, disabled, spiritual, creative—the ribbon becomes more than a symbol. It becomes a thread that weaves dignity into daily life.

🌱 Beyond Awareness: Toward Belonging

Awareness is a beginning. But belonging is the goal.

In Neurodivine, we explore what it means to live with difference—not as deficit, but as depth. Wearing the ribbon aligns with that vision. It’s a gesture of welcome, a refusal to pathologize pain, and a commitment to building spaces where mental health is treated with the same respect as physical health.

Whether you’re hosting a coffee morning, sharing your story online, or simply checking in with a friend—your actions matter. The ribbon may be small, but its message is mighty.

✨ October and Beyond

So yes, it’s October. The leaves are turning, the campaign posters may be coming down—but my ribbon stays on. Because mental health matters every day. Because stigma doesn’t vanish with the end of a campaign. And because solidarity, once offered, should never be seasonal.

Let’s keep wearing the ribbon. Let’s keep talking. Let’s keep listening.

To anyone reading this who feels alone in their struggle: you are not invisible. You are not a burden. You are not too much. You are worthy of care, of community, and of compassion.

Together, we can end the stigma—not just in September, but every day.