A single photo of pop star Harry Styles walking through London with a canvas tote bag has helped raise $40,000 for a small mental health initiative. The money has paid for more than 1,300 therapy sessions for people who cannot afford treatment. The bag belonged to the Other People Fund, an independent project started by Elena Kilgore. What began as a small personal idea quickly grew into a major charity effort after the singer was seen carrying it.
From a break-up line to a mental health mission
The idea started with a personal experience when Kilgore was 23. After a relationship ended and both people agreed to “see other people”, Kilgore decided to seek therapy. However, she soon learned how expensive private treatment could be. This made her realise that cost was a major barrier for many people who needed mental health support. According to People, therapy sessions in the United States usually cost between $100 and $200. Knowing that many people cannot afford regular treatment, Kilgore decided to create clothing with a playful message: “I think that we should see other people, and by other people I mean therapists”. In an interview with People, Kilgore explained that she first planned to keep the project small. She wanted to sell just 100 shirts and use the money to pay for therapy for a few people in her personal circle.
A manifestation that reached London
While creating the clothing line, Kilgore had Styles in mind as someone she hoped would support the project. “My five year plan for Other People Fund was to get Harry Styles in my t-shirt,” Kilgore told Novel Magazine. “I designed it with him in mind. My exact direction to my shirt designer was, ‘something that Harry Styles would wear.'” Kilgore contacted the singer’s stylist through Instagram. The stylist bought both a shirt and a tote bag. A few weeks later, fans spotted Styles walking through London with the large canvas tote. Photos of the singer carrying the bag quickly spread across social media. This brought thousands of fans to the charity’s website.
Funding hundreds of mental health sessions
The sudden attention had an immediate effect on sales. The brand made $40,000 directly from merchandise sales. The money went towards the project’s non-profit organisation, Support for the Psyche. So far, the initiative has paid for 1,300 therapy sessions for people who need financial support. “It’s so obviously cyclical that finance and mental illness are intertwined,” Kilgore told Novel Magazine. She explained that although people are now more open about mental health, many still cannot afford the treatment they need. The project continues to sell merchandise, including special tote bag collaborations. All proceeds go directly towards helping people pay for mental healthcare.
