Mychal Threets Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles

Mychal Threets, the librarian, author and host of the new Reading Rainbow, has received an outpouring of support after sharing that he is struggling with his mental health.

Threets wrote on Threads Monday, “I am not okay. Maybe I’ll never be okay. I’m seeking help.” He said he planned to go to the hospital the following day and added, “In this moment I am safe. By God’s grace.”

He also thanked the people in his life who have supported and cared for him.

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

His message quickly drew thousands of supportive responses. Actress Yvette Nicole Brown encouraged him to seek help immediately, writing, “If you need the help, maybe go tonight, friend.”

Other followers told Threets how much he means to them. One person wrote, “This world is a better place with you in it. You are seen. You are appreciated. And you are loved.”

By Tuesday afternoon, the post had received more than 70,000 likes.

Threets, known online as Mychal the Librarian, has nearly one million followers on Instagram. He has also been open about his own mental health struggles and the difficult period that led him to leave his library job.

In an April interview with NBC Bay Area, Threets said he had been dealing with severe burnout and loneliness. He revealed that he had planned to take his own life in March 2024.

“I’m still struggling today,” he said at the time, while also describing how his life had changed after he began sharing his love of libraries online.

His social media presence eventually led to opportunities with PBS and PBS Kids. He became the resident librarian for PBS and the host of the Reading Rainbow reboot, which launched in 2025.

The original Reading Rainbow, hosted by LeVar Burton, aired on PBS from 1983 to 2006. The new series has introduced Threets to a new generation of young readers.

Threets is also the author of I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, published this year.

His latest message is another reminder that even people who bring joy and encouragement to millions can face serious personal struggles. His followers have responded by returning the kindness and encouragement he has shared with them.