From http://www.bridgettwalther.com/


Plant a Seed of Hope for Mental Health Awareness Month by Kathryn Goetzke White

It took me almost fifteen years to realize I had a significant issue with depression. At age 13, I started developing unhealthy addictions. I would work to conquer one and then replace it with another through the years. It is only now that I can finally see with such clarity that I was dealing with something much bigger than myself, much bigger than something I could control without seeking treatment, taking care of myself, and making significant lifestyle changes.
I should have known. I had a father who committed suicide when I was 19 – and there were other depression/suicide episodes in his family. I had a history of alcoholism in my family. Unfortunately, depression was so highly stigmatized that I thought it was like people said – something I could control and snap out of.
When I launched my product line Mood-lites in 2004, I wanted to donate to a nonprofit organization dealing with depression. Unfortunately, there weren’t any international organizations that really tackled the stigma – and seeing that the World Health Organization had said that depression would be the leading cause of health impairment by 2020, I thought something needed to be done.
So I founded iFred (The International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression). This month, we are celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with a campaign to work to eliminate the stigma – and create a field of hope.
This is a great opportunity to share your support of depression, and people that seek help, because you can plant a seed in their honor.
Over 1 in 10 people are dealing with depression in any given year, and this field of hope is intended to bring awareness and thoughts of brighter days ahead. To find out more, please visit www.depression.org
~ Kathryn Goetzke White
http://www.bridgettwalther.com/