Frequently Asked Questions

One in five children is living with mental illness and 50% of all lifetime mental illness starts by age 14. Yet, there is still stigma around this national health crisis. On Our Sleeves® was launched by Nationwide Children’s Hospital to build a national movement in support of children through advocacy, education and research.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mission of On Our Sleeves?

The mission of On Our Sleeves is to provide every community in America access to free, evidenced-informed educational resources necessary for breaking stigmas about child mental health as well as educating families and advocates.

What does On Our Sleeves mean?

We can’t look at someone and know what they are going through – especially a child who may not be able to fully communicate what they are thinking and feeling. On Our Sleeves takes a classic saying (“We don’t wear our heart on our sleeves”) and shows what a child or teen may be thinking and feeling by showing graphics that illustrate thoughts and feelings associated with mental health.

What do the icons mean?

If children could wear their thoughts on their sleeves, what would they look like? Our On Our Sleeves icons visualize what you may see if you could know what’s on a child’s mind. Each icon represents potential thoughts and feelings someone could have, using simple illustrations to symbolize complex emotions. However, a person’s experiences will define what these icons mean to them.

How will donations to On Our Sleeves be used?

Gifts of any size make the On Our Sleeves mission possible – to provide every community in America access to free, evidenced-based educational resources for children’s mental wellness. Gifts fund educational content, lesson plans for schools and activities for schools and organizations. To make a donation, click here.

How do I get involved?

The On Our Sleeves Alliance works to amplify the cause of children’s mental health through the voices and actions of leading corporations, youth-serving organizations and health care organizations across the country. The Alliance works to empower the mental health and wellness of every child in America through the distribution of free, evidenced-based resources necessary for breaking stigmas and educating families and advocates. Learn more.