How to Promote Mental Health in NFTs
Mental health is a HUGE topic these days, especially now that we’re just coming out of the pandemic.
Most people had to deal with the anxiety of the situation, fearing for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. And so, CoVid19 has created a huge impact in the wellbeing and mental health for many of us.
Ironically, this is the period when NFTs started to get more visibility.
And so, a lot of people found a way to integrate mental health inside the NFT space, whether it’s inspiring people or offering mental health services to those who are suffering in silence.
In one of our recent podcast episodes, we interviewed Dr. Carlene MacMillan, a Harvard trained mental health professional, CEO of Brooklyn minds and fast becoming the go-to psychiatrist in the metaverse.
And during the interview, she shared with us how she got started into the NFT space.
Check out the podcast episode here to listen to the entire interview.
So, the question is, in what ways can we integrate mental health into the NFT space and how do we get started?
Ways to integrate mental health into NFTs
Whether you’re an artist, a mental health enthusiast or a mental health professional who sees the need to promote mental health awareness, the NFT space is open for you.
Here are some of the ways we found on how mental health is integrated into NFTs. This is based on the most current projects ongoing in the space but there is so much room for more growth in the future.
Mental Health Behind Your Art
One of the ways to promote mental health awareness in NFTs is creating projects around mental health topics.
An example of this is the project of medical student Carmen Aguirre who created “Emotion Monsters” and auctioned it in the NFTs.
The goal of this project is to make people aware that they are not alone in battling these mental health issues. Part of this project also goes into a mental health awareness organization.
Mental Health Awareness Projects
There are also a lot of mental health projects and groups inside NFTs.
As Dr. Macmillan shared in our interview, she first got interested in NFTs when she got into one of the NFTs clubs and realized that there is so much space to talk about mental health subjects in the metaverse.
Then, she was introduced to projects that support and promote mental health awareness in the NFTs when a member decided to give her a Blazed Cats NFT and told her that the project donates a huge amount towards mental health in America.
Currently, Dr. Macmillan is part of the Lost Boys NFT project which promotes mental health support mostly for men who weren’t equipped to handle emotions and stress due to social stigma.
Aside from the Lost Boys NFT, there’s also the Lost Cat FC which is a Therapy Fund to give their community access to mental health professionals.
What they do is when people purchase their NFTs, this gives them access to mental health support through online therapy and even group funded therapies.
Why is it important to discuss mental health in NFTs?
One of the biggest takeaways from the interview with Dr. Macmillan is that the NFT space is such a fast paced industry which can cause anxiety and depression to a lot of members.
It is so much like gambling and if not properly handled, it can be really destructive. People can get addicted to the highs and lows of NFTs, which can mess up with our hormones, like the “feel good” high when someone purchases your first NFT.
Being inside NFTs can also cause depression as you start to see people criticizing your work, or not liking it as well as people “ignoring” your project.
There can also be a spike in the people who support your project which can also cause depression for many of us who desire to have that sense of belongingness.
And most of all, FOMO — the Fear of Missing Out. This causes a lot of brain power to decide where to invest or not in the NFT space, fearing that this project might become big and you’d regret not joining it (in reference to what happened to Bitcoin).
Having NFTs promoting mental health awareness and offering mental health services can help people get easier access to help their mental wellbeing while in the space.
How to deal with mental health issues in NFTs?
Here are some things that Dr. Macmillan shared during the interview in dealing with mental health in NFTs.
1. One of the biggest takeaways from the interview with Dr. Macmillan is to choose the projects that you are going to dive deeper into.
2. Make sure that you only go into projects that really resonate with you and that you find value in.
3. Choose Discord communities that give substantial and valuable information that can feed you mentally and emotionally. This way, you know that your time is being spent the right way.
4. Engage on Twitter first before diving deep into the communities to feel your way into the space.
5. Create systems and checks before getting into the space, so you don’t get lost. And if you ever get lost, you have a way of coming back.
6. Be clear with your purpose in coming into the space. When your purpose is clear, you have the direction to go and you don’t get distracted in this fast paced industry.
7. Call for help when needed. There are a lot of NFT communities out there that you can join when you feel that you are starting to get lost in the game.
It’s important to keep our mental health in check whether in the metaverse or in the real world. Our mind is our power and without that, we have nowhere to go, so let’s take care of ourselves.
If you are an artist or an NFT enthusiast who wants to dive into the NFT space and know more about NFTs, how it works and how you can be a part of it, let’s stay connected!
We are honored to support your NFT journey!
Lauren Turton and the Freedom with NFTs team
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