Tomorrow, the 10th of January it’s my birthday. But this year I don’t want to celebrate, instead the only thing I would love, is to be able to raise some funds towards depression research and suicide prevention. 

Even if I’m able to feel like I’m slightly helping those who deserve better, that’s all I would want for my birthday.

I would love for my loved ones to donate what they want, even just $5 and that will mean more than any birthday wish...

I will be dontating all funds (no matter how small) to the Black Dog Institute who are doing good things; last year releasing a research initiative along side Everymind with funding from the government to find solutions for the prevention of anxiety and depression, focusing on workplace, education and healthcare.

Something that we sure as hell don’t have enough support, knowledge and understanding of....something that is holding good humans back from living out their lives with a smile... something a lot, (which always shocks me) a lot of us take for granted; waking up happy and having a full 24hrs without overwhelmingly negative thoughts... Depression is not a choice. Similar to Cancer. It’s an illness. 

Every year my only wish on my birthday has been, to be happy. If anyone ever asked me my goal in life, it was to be happy. Pretty simple for some but for a lot it’s all they will ever hope for. I have been blessed to go through 32years and realise I was happy and acknowledge and be grateful for that.

In 2004 I lost my fun loving and caring uncle Mick to suicide, something that made me appreciate my mental health as a young adult and continue to strive for happiness as I grew up. Which I did, in his honour. Four months ago, I lost my beautiful love, my boyfriend Ricky to suicide, a soul whom I wanted the rest of life to be with. Both souls deserved better in life, and only ever cared to make others happy. 

Mental health awareness has always been strong for me, but as I’ve grown up I’ve seen a shift in talking about it, educating kids and adults about it, being open to medication and open to seeking help from psychologist, whatever we can do to be happy and healthy -we need to do it.

But as I’ve witnessed recently, mental health is still very under researched and under supported. We simply need to do more to save our family.

I watched someone who I loved very much try so hard, he fought each day to stay positive, he wanted very much to live out his life. He was open about his struggle with his mental illness, he seeked help in different types, he took medication and tried new medication when he felt himself slipping. I feel like I let him down, that i didn’t have the answers to his depression like I so very much wanted too. 

I would love to see more for those living with mental illness, more support in our healthcare - helping those truly in need of our help. 

My one wish this birthday is that in giving more compassion and understand to those living with mental illness, more funding and research into healthcare we can offer better support.

I love you Ricky and I wish I could do more for you for my birthday xo

Thank you in advance to anyone donating xxx

#MentalHealthMatters
#DepressionAwareness
#SuicideAwareness
#MentalHealthAwareness
#ruokay