Mychal Threets announced he’s taking a brave step to get help after disclosing that he’s “not okay.” In a Threads post, the Reading Rainbow star shared that he’d be checking himself into the hospital. 

“I am not okay. Maybe I’ll never be okay. I’m seeking help. Going to the [hospital] tomorrow. In this moment I am safe. By God’s grace,” he wrote on the social media platform. 

Threets, 36, is popularly known as Mychal the Librarian both on social media, where he initially gained fame, as well as on the hit PBS series. 

His Threads post continued, “No matter what happens to me I will always be thankful for the extraordinary people in my life who worry, who help me. Thank you for your care. I will always love you 💚.”

Social media users have gathered in Threets’ comment section to share words of encouragement and provide a well-deserved outpouring of love. 

“If you need the help, maybe go tonight, friend, ❤️” actress Yvette Nicole Brown encouraged. 

The literacy advocate has been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression. Despite his personal challenges and being introverted, Threets has made it his mission to share his passion for literacy and advocate for mental health. In January of this year, the 36-year-old spoke to PEOPLE about how he balances being in the spotlight while being an introvert.  

“I’m still a very introverted person,” he said at the time. “I think because of what’s happened in life, I’ve become more extroverted. I’ve been more comfortable talking about the library, talking about library stories, talking about mental health, just because I love it all. But had I known all this was going to happen, I probably would’ve never started posting.”

Threets made it clear that he prefers being behind the scenes and that he still has “hard days.”

“But for a chance to amplify libraries, amplify people’s stories—essentially, I serve almost as a narrator of library joy, and I’m honored to do it.”

The Reading Rainbow star’s love for books is infectious. The PBS show, which aired for 26 years before ending in 2006, was recently renewed for a 24-episode season to be hosted by Threets, after he did a short test run of the program in 2025 that was well-received. He was also featured in a conversation at ESSENCE Festival of Culture in July where he presented his first children’s book, I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy.

We hope he gets the support he needs to overcome his current challenges and know that his transparency about his mental health will help others. 

Author: Elizabeth Ayoola

Read the original article on Essence.