Michelle says if she wasn't lucky enough to have supportive family and friends, she could be homeless too

Some profits are donated to organizations that benefit New York's mentally ill homeless population

Her clothing company, Schizophrenic.NYC, sells T-shirts and tank tops with her own colorful Rorschach Test designs

One young New Yorker with schizophrenia isn't focusing on just taking care of herself - she's doing her part to help others who suffer with mental illness too, with her creative clothing company.

Michelle Hammer, 27, was diagnosed with the mental illness when she was just 22. Struck by the sad statistic that hundreds of thousands of people with schizophrenia are living on the streets, the young woman - who is happy to have the support of her family and friends - wanted to do what she could to help those who aren't so fortunate.

So she launched Schizophrenic.NYC, a clothing line that draws inspiration from mental illness while also donating and supporting organizations that help New York City's mentally ill homeless population.

Helping out: Michelle Hammer (pictured) was diagnosed with schizophrenia ate age 22; now, at 27, she runs a clothing company that benefits sufferers

Original designs: Michelle draws the Rorschach Test designs herself, having picked the theme because people associate inkblots with mental illness

The company notes that about 200,000 people with schizophrenia or manic-depressive illness are currently homeless in the United States - or about a third of the country's entire homeless population.

In New York City alone, there are 59,285 homeless people - meaning about 19,500 of them are likely to be suffering from mental illness, perhaps preventing them from getting a job, paying rent, and taking care of themselves.

According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, the company says, there are more people with untreated severe psychiatric illnesses living on America’s streets than are receiving care in hospitals.

'I realize every day how lucky I am to have a safety net of family and friends,' Michelle, whose great-grandmother was also schizophrenic, told How am I Feeling? 'I believe that without them that I could easily be homeless. It’s hard for me to keep a job, I’ve had about 9 jobs in the past 4 years. Having schizophrenia, I vividly daydream and talk to myself constantly.

'This is something I see homeless people doing all the time. I feel if they had the right treatment that they could be living a better life. I want to help them get that better life.'

Sad stat: Michelle notes that 200,000 people with mental illness are homeless in the United States

Charity tees: The clothing is available for $20-25 on her website, and a portion of profits is donated to nonprofits that help New York's mentally ill homeless population

Being so lucky herself, Michelle wanted to help people who don't have the same support system that she does - so she created a company that sells T-shirts, tanks, and baby onesies printed with colorful Rorschach Tests, which she chose because most people associate those inkblot designs with psychology and mental illness.

WHAT IS A RORSCHACH TEST? The Rorschach test - also called an inkblot test - is a method of psychological evaluation invented by Hermann Rorshach in 1921. There are ten official inkblots with near-perfect symmetry, and psychologists would ask patients to describe what image they see within the patterns. The method was often used in diagnosing underlying thought disorders and separating psychotic from non-psychotic thinking. While once popular, Rorschach tests are no longer used frequently. Advertisement

These particular inkblots, though, Michelle illustrates herself. After drawing them on paper, she alters them in Photoshop to come up with a finished design.

'I try to keep my mind busy with extremely detailed drawings,' she said. 'The more I focus on the designs the less I think about my struggles.'

The designs sell for $20-25 for clothing and $1-20 for buttons and prints, and a portion of the profits are donated to organizations like Fountain House, NYS Health Foundation, and NAMI New York State, which help people in New York who are coping with mental illnesses.

Besides raising actual funds for these suffers of schizophrenia, Michelle is campaigning to raise awareness and correct misconceptions.

'Schizophrenia really does suck, but as long as you have a good support system - like friends, family, doctors - and you get yourself help, you can live just like a normal person,' she told LIJ Hospital.

Occupying her time: Michelle said she tries to keep her mind busy, so creating these shirt designs has been helpful for her, too

Clearing things up: The New Yorker also wants to dispel some misconceptions about mental illness, like that sufferers are 'crazy' and can't lead a normal life

Part of making sure that sufferers have somewhere to turn involves educating the general population about mental illness, so there is less shame involved in seeking out assistance.

'When most people think [of] schizophrenia, they think that a person who has it is absolutely insane and can in no way live a normal life,' she noted in her How am I Feeling? interview.

'Not all people with schizophrenia are lost causes. Many live normal lives, and their friends have no idea that they live with the burden of a mental illness.

Unfortunately, it's not always easy for some sufferers to just 'get help'. Michelle explained that many are paranoid that the very people who are trying to help them are actually trying to hurt them, which leads them to turn their backs on family members and doctors.

That is why it upsets Michelle so much when she hears homeless people being called 'crazy'.