SACRAMENTO – It was a simple question from everyone's favorite little red monster. Elmo's official X account asked people how things were going, and the answers were pretty real.
After all, sunny days don't wipe away the clouds for many. This post has sparked a debate about mental health.
“I'm burnt out myself,” said the Sacramento resident. “What I'm saying is this economic situation is much more difficult than it was just a few years ago. Groceries are expensive, gas is expensive, it's just a higher cost of living.”
But social media was shocked when Elmo's simple tweet caused a dramatic change.
The hashtag #Elmotraumadumping is trending with tweets like, “I can't wait to go back to sleep every morning. I can't wait every Monday.” and “I'm at my lowest. Thank you.” It has become. or simply “Elmo, we are tired.”
With over 200 million likes and thousands of retweets and reactions, it shines a light on the larger topic of the importance of mental health.
CBS13 spoke with Dr. Alex Dimtriou, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, about why the heartbeat of this country seems to be dealing with despair and depression.
“From my perspective, the world has been in a fever since the coronavirus outbreak, and we are still feeling the heat,” Dr. Dimitriou said.
He suggests people take breaks and seek help if needed.
“Getting enough sleep and not scrolling social media until 2 a.m. are all positive things. I think real change starts at home. It starts with yourself. No matter what the situation, you're in control. I think we need to see what is possible.” Dr. Dimitrui said.
The Sesame Street account chimed in, directing people to mental health resources.
Anyone who needs help can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
