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FREmoji — mental health signals
Machine translation. The Dutch version is authoritative. View in Dutch
+Context
This theme groups emoji that may point to low mood, sadness, mental strain, stress, withdrawal and requests for help. These symbols are also often used simply to share feelings or for dramatic effect. Signal value arises with repetition, an accumulation of dark/hopeless symbols, withdrawal, or explicit distress or farewell signals. Because of the risk of self-harm or a crisis, this theme receives the highest urgency as soon as it falls within such a pattern.
+Terms
| Emoji | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🥀 | Low mood, sadness, loss, dark thoughts |
| 🖤 | Low mood, dark thoughts, grief, sadness, mental strain |
| 🖤🥀 | Low mood, depressive feelings, dark thoughts, emotional pain |
| 💔 | Sadness, pain, disappointment, loss |
| 😔 | Low mood, disappointment, mental strain |
| 😢 | Sadness, crying, emotional pain |
| 😭 | Intense sadness, despair, loss |
| 😞 | Dejected, disappointed, low self-esteem |
| 🧠 | Mental strain, thoughts, stress |
| 🫠 | Overstimulated, mentally drained, discomfort |
| 😵💫 | Confused, stress, under the influence, chaos |
| 🫥 | Feeling invisible, withdrawing |
| 🆘 | Request for help, distress signal |
| 🛟 | Needing help, rescue, seeking support |
| ❤️🩹 | Recovery, processing pain, healing |
| ❤️ | Love, support, connectedness |
| 💜 | Love, loyalty, support, sometimes a group colour |
| 😶🌫️ | Confused, absent, under the influence or mentally overloaded |
| 🕊️🖤 | Grief, remembrance, loss |
| 🧠💔 | Mental pain, stress, emotional strain |
| 🕳️ | Disappearing, dark period, risk |
+Signal value
A single sadness emoji is usually just sharing a feeling. Weigh repetition, accumulation of dark symbols (🖤 🥀 🕳️), withdrawal (🫥), and explicit distress (🆘 🛟). A combination with farewell language, sudden changes in behaviour or isolation greatly increases the concern. ❤️🩹 or 🛟 may in fact be an opening or a request for help.
+What you can do
In the event of distress signals, farewell signals or suspected acute risk of self-harm/suicide: this is acute safety — act immediately according to your crisis protocol and involve the designated care/crisis service.
- Read emoji in clusters and in context — never treat a single symbol as proof.
- Take an accumulation of dark symbols and withdrawal seriously; start a conversation.
- Have the conversation in a warm, open and non-judgemental way; offer concrete routes to help.
- Involve care services, school and parents where needed so that signals are picked up quickly.
+Disclaimer
These meanings are never fixed. Emoji can differ by young person, friendship group, region, platform and context. An emoji is never proof in itself, but it can be a signal when it fits within a broader pattern of language use, behaviour, posts, contacts and offline signals. Use this overview as a tool for identifying concerns, not as an instrument of proof.
+Sources
emoji_woordenboek.docx(Emoji-woordenboek, columns Emoji / Mogelijke betekenis)