I have always been aware of the facts surrounding mental illness and suicide. The subject attracts a huge amount of media coverage and both government and community initiatives are being set up daily to try to tackle it. Yet the numbers continue to rise.
And that’s what they always were to me – just numbers, names, faces I didn’t know. It’s not until you experience the effects of suicide or learn to live with a loved one suffering depression that you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the emotions involved and the strength required by sufferers and their families to fight this illness, or to continue their own lives while they battle the overwhelming grief and confusion experienced when losing someone through suicide.
“About 200 people a year take their own lives in Northern Ireland”(Mind Yourself, BBC)
200 people, the majority being men and many of whom most probably suffering from a mental illness like depression prior to feeling so overwhelmed as to want to take their own lives.
Right now over 300,000 Irish people suffer from depression however depressive illnesses are extremely responsive to treatment. Over 80% of the most serious depressions can be quickly helped. Effective counselling and medications enable people to recover and help prevent recurrences. If given proper care, people can achieve recovery and lead productive and enjoyable lives.
80% - another number, another high number, but a positive number! The issue is that in order to get help you need to ask for it. To do that you need to recognise your symptoms and feel comfortable talking about your feelings. Men, in general, find this much more difficult than women. Coupled with the stigma attached to mental illness, our society does not make for the type of place that accommodates the needs of sufferers in order to give them the best chance of recovering.I wanted to change that, or at least do my bit to help!
I work for a charity during the week so I understand how much they rely on funding and support. I’m also a part-time glamour model, working with agencies in England and appearing in various “lads mags”. Then the light bulb appeared over my head – this was what young men might pay attention to, because if we could just get their attention then we could get the message across! And so, the calendar was born. I had a great team around me with talent, dedication and sense of humour in abundance! The creative ideas flowed and we worked day and night on top of our day jobs to get it finished, with the help of all the models, the creatives and our families, it’s here. I hope you like it and I hope you buy it. All profits will go to Aware Defeat Depression and maybe if things go well, we’ll do it bigger and better next year!
Leanne x
