Sheena Shah, a healthcare provider that specializes in psychiatry, has the perfect partner to help her spread mental health advocacy and messages – her TikTok famous Pomsky, Sapphie!
Loved by nearly 7 million fans on Tiktok, Sapphie spreads good mental health messages often, and in the cutest way. In honor of World Mental Health Day today, The Blast spoke to Shah about Sapphie’s important messages and tips to help prioritize good mental health.
Sapphie The Pomsky Honors World Mental Health Day Every Day!
Sapphie talks with the help of word buttons and she’s mastered it! Anyone who watches her videos knows she even has a favorite button, but we don’t need to reveal that here. (If you know, you know.)
The TikTok videos on mental health topics began because Shah saw a great opportunity to get more awareness out there in a fun way. The beloved pup has done a series of mental health awareness videos in topics such as motivation, postpartum depression, PTSD, anxiety, emotions, addiction, and other mental health struggles, and has received tons of positive feedback.
@sapphie_the_pomsky A message to those who are battling with their mental health ?? inspired by @selenagomez ? #smartdog #dogs #mentalhealthmatters #vulnerabilityisstrength ? original sound – Sapphie the Pomsky
“I am a healthcare provider that specializes in psychiatry, and I wanted to incorporate a fun way of using Sapphie and the buttons to send inspiring messages to those who are struggling with their mental health,” she exclusively told The Blast.
“We have gotten thousands of messages thanking Sapphie for making them feel better. People who are struggling mentally and physically have personally reached out and have told Sapphie what an inspiration she is. The reason we create content is solely to make people laugh and make them feel empowered and better about themselves.”
@sapphie_the_pomsky Sapphie Speaks: World Mental Health Day ??? #mentalhealthmatters #sapphiespeaks #bekind #dogs #smartdog ? original sound – Sapphie the Pomsky
Shah picks the topics she will have Sapphie focus on in a video based on their many social media Lives and Q&A’s, and also the struggles she sees day-to-day with her patients. Her videos get millions of views and tons of positive comments.
Sapphie Even Has A Children’s Book Out About Mental Health
Shah recently wrote a children’s book called “Sapphie: The Dog With Feelings” that focuses on mental health. An Instagram post a few months ago announced the book’s release.
“This book takes children on a journey with Sapphie as she explores her emotions. It serves as a reminder to not keep feelings bottled up inside, something that is crucial to remember whether one is a child or an adult,” the caption reads.
“Exploring these emotions with Sapphie helps shed light on the essential role emotions play in personal development and mental well-being.”
Many of Sapphie’s social media followers were excited to hear about the book when Shah first announced it.
“Omg I need this even as an adult! I’ve struggled with expressing myself my entire life! This is perfect for my future children! I don’t want them to experience anything I’ve gone through,” one follower shared.
Another person added, “This is the cutest thing I have seen today. Really guys your content is very amazing. Keep rocking as always. Always here to support you guys!!”
Sheena Shah Shares Tips To Help Prioritize Your Mental Health
Making sure you prioritize your mental health is important for everyone regardless of age. With so many people living busy lives filled with stress, making it a point to put yourself first is key.
“In the world we live in, it is so easy to let our emotions control us and put our mental health on the back burner,” Shah told The Blast. “The first step is prioritizing yourself whether that means setting boundaries or just taking some time and space to reflect. Doing simple things like breathing, going for a walk, or simply doing things that you enjoy is a good place to start.”
@sapphie_the_pomsky Sapphie Speaks: Depression ?? #smartdog #dogs #mentalhealth #depressiontiktok #SapphieSpeaks #mentalhealthawareness ? original sound – Sapphie the Pomsky
Shah said it’s also important to be able to distinguish the things that you have control over versus things that are totally out of your control.
“In life, there are many unfortunate events that occur and allow people to feel like everything is going against them,” she continued. “We can only control the way we react to these situations. Additionally, it is extremely important to practice self-care and being kind to yourself.”
See more of Sapphie’s mental health awareness videos on TikTok and Instagram.