This comes five days after the PBS host shared that he planned to check himself into the hospital after feeling like he was “not okay”

NEED TO KNOW

• Mychal Threets revealed in a video shared on Threads on Saturday, Aug. 22, that he was hospitalized for five days on a “psychiatric hold” and thanked medical staff for saving his life
• He shared the update five days after telling fans that he planned to check himself into the hospital because he was “not okay”
• The Reading Rainbow host has been open about his struggles with depression and anxiety in the past and continues to advocate for mental health awareness

Reading Rainbow’s Mychal Threets is sharing an update on his mental health, five days after he told fans he planned to check himself into a hospital.

The 36-year-old librarian and host posted a video on Threads on Saturday, Aug. 22, in which he opened up about why he sought help and what he has been through over the past week. 

“I just wanted to apologize for worrying so many people,” Threets began his video. “I just got back from a five-day stay at the hospital, a five-day psychiatric hold.” 

“I haven’t been okay for what feels like a very, very long time,” he explained. “I am not okay, but I have hope I will get to okay. I’m on the struggle bookmobile. It’s gonna take a long time for me to be okay.”

He went on to thank the “multitude of doctors, nurses and mental health workers” who helped him at the hospital, saying, “You saved my life.” He also thanked his family, friends and fans for their support.

“Three, six, nine, it’s okay to not be fine. We’re struggling. We’re human beings. We’re doing our best,” the PBS host said, before directing a message to fans. “Thank you for being you. Thank you for staying. Maybe I’ll see you at the library. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”

“I am safe ❤️‍🩹,” Threets captioned the video.

The I’m So Glad You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy author initially opened up about what he was going through in a Threads post shared on Aug. 17.

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

He 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 💚.”

The literacy advocate — who went viral in 2023 for sharing his love of books — has been open about his struggles with mental health in the past. He previously told PEOPLE about his struggles with depression and anxiety.

“I’m still a very introverted person,” he shared back in January. “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.”

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Threets went on to say that while he still wasn’t fond of the spotlight, his message about the positive impact of books is what continues to carry him forward.

“I still have hard days, and I’d much rather be behind the scenes,” he told PEOPLE. “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.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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