This Wisconsin woman struggled with her own mental health for decades. Now, her ‘little hearts’ project has gone global.

Content Warning: This story discusses suicide.

Kathleen Jensen started crocheting 15 years ago as a way to keep her hands–and racing mind–busy. Little did she know the simple hobby was about to get her through some of her darkest days.

“For eight years, I wanted to kill myself all day, every day,” she remembered.

Thinking, as it is for many people with a mental health condition, was Kathleen’s Achilles heel. Throughout her 40s and 50s, she battled severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, and thoughts of suicide. Thanks to intense support from her husband and therapy, she survived, and by spring 2022, was well enough to help others. So she started The Little Heart Project.

💙 Read Kathleen’s Full Backstory

“Our mission statement is simple,” she told us. “Preventing suicide one heart at a time. The hope is that, by spreading kindness, we can reduce suicides and open up the conversation around mental health.”

Kathleen crochets little hearts, attaches encouraging notes, and leaves them around town. What started as a single-woman mission has spiraled into a worldwide effort–with volunteers making and leaving hearts in cities across America and around the world.

How To Help:

The Little Heart Project needs you to keep growing!

💖 If you know how to crochet or knit, you’ll easily be able to make these two-inch hearts. Click here for the free pattern.

💖 Not crafty? Email [email protected] if you’d like to be mailed some hearts to leave around your neighborhood.

💖 Feeling generous? Kathleen’s Venmo is Kathleen-Jensen-68, or click here to learn about other ways to donate to The Little Heart Project.