Children's entertainer Mychal Threets has broken his silence following a five-day psychiatric hold, sharing an update on his health and advocating for greater accessibility to mental healthcare.
Threets, 36, who has hosted the children's show Reading Rainbow since its revival in September 2025, addressed fans in a video posted to Threads on Saturday. He apologized for causing worry and explained his recent absence.
"I just got back from a five-day stay at the hospital, a five-day psychiatric hold," Threets said in the video. He admitted to struggling for an extended period, stating, "I am not okay. But I have hope I will get to okay. I'm on the struggle bookmobile." He added that recovery would likely take a significant amount of time.
He expressed gratitude to the medical professionals who cared for him, saying, "doctors, nurses and mental health workers I saw. It's not enough, but thank you. You saved my life." Threets also thanked his family, friends, and supporters, concluding the clip with a message of love and a thumbs-up.
In a separate written post on Threads, Threets detailed his experience with voluntary psychiatric hospitalization, highlighting the human empathy and kindness he received. However, he also raised concerns about the cost of mental healthcare, asserting that "mental health help is far too expensive" and "should not be." He emphasized that everyone is "worthy of help."
Earlier in the week, Threets had announced his intention to check into a hospital, sharing a candid message on Threads that read, "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."
His announcement prompted supportive messages from various figures, including actress Yvette Nicole Brown and entrepreneur Nicole Waters.
Threets, who is also a librarian, gained significant attention after going viral on social media in 2023 for sharing videos of his work at the Fairfield Civic Center Library in California. He was subsequently named the resident librarian for PBS in 2024.
His recent public discussion of his mental health follows a TikTok video posted weeks prior, in which he expressed love and pride for his audience and thanked them for "staying."
Threets has previously spoken about his struggles with depression and anxiety. In a January 2026 interview with People, he reflected on his increased public profile, noting, "I'm still a very introverted person," but acknowledging that his passion for libraries and reading has inspired him to share his story and amplify the importance of libraries and people's experiences.
For individuals seeking support, the U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, with online chat services also available at 988lifeline.org.