Everyone’s favorite red Muppet sparked an cries for help on social media earlier this year after simply asking, “How is everybody doing?”
The post on X from Elmo’s official account was just a way for the iconic “Sesame Street” character to check in with fans online. However, it was met with posts from people sharing their “existential dread,” life struggles, mental health issues, feelings of burnout, and more.
While Elmo’s question was at first intended to be lighthearted, the millions of responses have now sparked action.
The creators of “Sesame Street,” Sesame Workshop, have conducted a new survey project looking to examine the “state of well-being in America.”
“We could not have predicted the overwhelming response that followed Elmo’s post,” Samantha Maltin, chief marketing and brand officer of Sesame Workshop, said in a news release. “As Elmo’s viral moment and this new study indicate, the most pressing issue facing American families right now is mental health and emotional well-being.”
Partnering with the consulting and market research firm The Harris Poll, Sesame Workshop has now released its “The State of Well-Being Report,” which included interviews with 2,012 Americans ages 16 and older. The survey was conducted in May and published on Tuesday.
Surveyors asked respondents what they felt should be prioritized when it comes to the future of well-being, and a majority ranked mental health nearly as important as economic stability.
The survey also found that some common stressors included consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical health, racism or discrimination, the effects of climate change, and a lack of a strong friend group or family setting.
But even with the calls for help, the survey did find a positive, as respondents want to be more open about their struggles, often seen as the first step in getting help. The data found that 67% of those surveyed said they wish their parents had been more honest about their own mental health struggles, including 79% of today’s parents.
As for possible solutions, 71% of educators said they thought schools “ should focus on social and emotional skills just as much as academics.” This sentiment was shared by a majority of Gen Z and millennials.
“Sesame Street” has also posted a link to mental health resources in response to the post from Elmo, offering support for those in need.