It’s for those moments when you just can’t find the words.
Rosie Jones has teamed up with the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) in their bid to introduce a new ‘Unhappy Pile of Poo’ emoji, to be used when people just cannot find the words to explain how are why they feel low.
The announcement comes on the anniversary of the United Kingdom first going into lockdown, a year that has seen CALM record a 100% increase in visits to their website amongst 18-24-year-olds. They are therefore arguing that a new emoji ‘is necessary more than ever’ to use to represent when people simply feel like crap.
We’ve all felt crap at some point during the last year so we’ve launched a campaign to add a new emoji to the line-up – the Unhappy Pile of Poo! What easier way to tell anyone from your mates to your mum that you #FeelLikeCrap?https://t.co/PEMH5UuhKS pic.twitter.com/VyWGeV8TsI
— CALM (@theCALMzone) March 23, 2021
CALM describe the new emoji as a way of helping people to ‘take the first steps towards telling a friend or loved one that they are struggling with their mental wellbeing or simply ‘feel like crap’, in an easy to use, non-intimidating and accessible way, before things get too overwhelming.’
Speaking about the project, much-loved comedian and actress Jones said: “I am proud to be the CALM ambassador for this emoji campaign.
“It’s been a tough year for everyone and I have certainly had times when I have been low, and felt isolated from my friends and family. This emoji is a great way to tell loved ones that things aren’t great. It’s an easy and simple way to reach out for help and start the conversation.”
CALM have said that they saw 40% increase in demand for their helpline services in the first week of lockdown back in March 2020, compared to pre-Covid levels, and that they have identified a real gap in the emoji market. According to CALM, ‘Only 13% of people surveyed believe there is currently an emoji that helps them express when they are struggling with their mental wellbeing, and 51% of people surveyed agreed that an emoji designed to express a concern with mental wellbeing would be useful in starting a conversation.’
The experience of being asked how we are by a close friend or family member but struggling to find the right words to describes those feelings is one that so many will be able to relate to. This new twist on the much loved poo emoji aims to start that conversation, instead of a simple reply of ‘fine’ or ‘alright.’
Those wanting to support the campaign can do by sharing the image of the emoji on socials, tagging CALM and using the #feellikecrap hashtag.
For more information about the Campaign Against Living Miserably and the work that they do, along with ways to help or donate, visit their website.
