The Great Shave

My name is Corinne Mullen, I’m 25, and I suffer from depression. I remember clearly the day that I realized that I was depressed: it was September, shortly after the beginning of my 4th year of university. I called my mom and said “Hey mom, I’m pretty sure I’m depressed.” Even at the time it was such a surreal conversation; reflecting on the conversation it’s easy to see that my experience is extremely out of the norm.

Unfortunately many people are not liberated from the stigma surrounding mental illness. I became aware of the importance of communication to mental illness long before my personal struggle with depression began. With multiple members of my family struggling through their own unique battles with mental illness we realized that in order to stay together we had to communicate, and by fighting through the awkward conversations and frustrating attempts to explain what was going on in our heads we were able to survive.

1 in 5 Canadians are directly affected by mental illness, yet almost one half (49%) of those affected have never gone to see a doctor about this problem even though mental illnesses can be effectively treated. Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community. One of the easiest ways to break down stigmas is education and open communication: this normalizes the topic in society, allowing everyone the freedom to seek the help they require. I am extremely passionate about breaking down the stigma and I will shout about it until my voice is hoarse if it means even one more person feels comfortable asking for help. And that is exactly my goal: I want everyone to feel comfortable to ask for the help they need.

My personal experiences have taught me how to communicate with others about mental illness and it's my wish to use this ability to raise money for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Everyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for a bargain, so I’ve decided to make this fundraiser a 2-for-1 deal! If I reach my fundraising goal I will be shaving my head and donating my hair to Wigs for Kids. Not only will your money be going towards breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, but also towards building back up the self-esteem of children suffering through health crises.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. By donating, your money will be helping the CMHA provide direct services to more than half a million Canadians a year, tailored to the needs of the people of the communities where they are based. I heavily support CMHA because they focus not only on surviving through mental illness but on living with and thriving in spite of mental illness: one of the core goals of the CMHA services is to help people with mental illness develop the personal tools to lead meaningful and productive lives.

I hope to reach my goal by December 10th, 2 months from now, and if my fundraising goal is reached by this date I will shave my head!

I want to express my appreciation for your generosity in support of CMHA and, indirectly, Wigs for Kids. Your commitment to this cause means the world to myself and to every individual who has or is currently living with mental illness. Even if you are not able to provide a monetary donation it is my hope that you continue to spread my message and communicate with those around you about the importance of mental health discussions; through education and communication we can fight the stigma.

Links for reference:
www.cmha.ca
www.wigsforkids.org