Harmon does make funny videos. He broke out with the now-defunct viral video app Vine, which published brief, six-second videos that launched the careers of people like Logan and Jake Paul, who went on to build multimillion-dollar digital empires after transitioning to YouTube and other online platforms. Despite being just 21, Harmon is determined to use his internet fame, which includes almost 1. In , when he was still primarily going by his MeechOnMars handle, Harmon posted a short film called Be Happy , about mental illness. His frank and honest discussion of his own struggles with mental health connected with his young viewers and even landed him an opportunity to deliver a commencement address touching on the issue at Edsel Ford high school in Dearborn, Michigan. Harmon has developed his personal brand as a social media influencer with a major emphasis on positivity. He donates money to school programs to help underprivileged youth. He dyed his hair pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and offered another specially-themed You Matter hoodie for the cause, with part of the proceeds going to breast cancer charities. He has his own spin on the fan meet-and-greet, the meet-and-greet-and-hug, in which he organizes informal meetings with his followers and literally gives each and every one of them a hug.
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Entering a new decade and looking back at some of the most talked-about topics of the s, mental health has undeniably seen a rise in popularity on social media. In a sense, this is a positive direction for society to go in, as we are seeing more and more people promoting and normalizing therapy and self-care. However, a negative consequence of the increased attention on mental health is that big brands are using mental health to seem more relatable to their consumer base. Take for example Demetrius Harmon.
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Jacket ALYX. Demetrius Harmon, mental health awareness and suicide prevention activist, is encouraging a generation to give a little more. Hailing from Detroit and known on social media as MeechOnMars , Harmon gained popularity through social media, posting his comedic videos to YouTube and Vine, along with comedy skits made with childhood friend Angelo Zeigler aka DopeIsland. But it was on Tumblr that Harmon started expressing the more serious parts of his emotions, through poetry, gaining an audience of people sympathetic to his own personal battles with depression. Harmon is tackling the stigma around the discussion of mental health especially among men and men of color. He tirelessly uses his platform to uplift others and share stories of mental health and his own struggles. As Mental Health Awareness Month winds down, we spoke to Harmon about the importance of opening up to others, his own struggles, and sharing love. I would say that my biggest issue was substances.
Through his struggles with suicide and depression in his life, he has learned to channel his experiences to affect social change, sharing his journey candidly with his combined social audience of nearly 3 million to provide visibility for those dealing with mental illness and using his platform to uplift others. Over the course of 7 years, Demetrius has created comedy skits with poignant messages, lead public speaking events across the United States, developed a successful apparel brand, and constructed a Community Meet-Up series to create a safe space without judgement and bring his community together. Demetrius started posting YouTube videos during his transition from Middle School to High School as an outlet to cope with the life change. With pure intentions of communicating the thoughts in his head to likeminded people, he began to garner a following. Since then he has spread his message across the country, speaking at schools including Michigan State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Michigan, University of Washington, University of Connecticut, and Georgetown University. Thus far, the brand includes hoodies, flags, blankets, and t-shirts. Thus far, he has curated one pop-up shop with the hopes of organizing several events in the future, along with over 10 meetups that have featured clothing giveaways, hugs and meaningful conversation. It went great! Demetrius was an amazing person to work with, and we had a great crowd.
