Local Glamour Girls' Calendar Helping to Beat Depression in Our Young Men!
A group of local glamour models and photographers are hoping to fill plenty of stockings this Christmas with their new calendar LIFE: Give It Your Breast Shot! They are hoping to reach young men in the province through their tongue-in-cheek approach to the traditional pin-up calendar in order to raise awareness of depression and the information and support services available, in a bid to encourage sufferers to speak up before they contemplate suicide.
With a representative from each of the 6 counties taking part, the girls are poking fun at their glamour modelling careers while also using this style of calendar to grab the attention of their target audience – young men, the demographic most at risk from completing suicide. All profits from the sale of the calendars is going to the charity Aware Defeat Depression who are working to increase awareness and services across Northern Ireland.
Co. Antrim - Leanne Reilly
Co. Armagh - Leanne Lurring
Co. L/Derry - Katie Wilkinson
Co. Down - Joanne Baalham
Co. Fermanagh - Laurena Lacey
Co. Tyrone - Lynda Kerr
Leanne Reilly, the model behind the initial concept, said:
“Having witnessed at close hand the effects of both male suicide and depression but knowing how successful medical and counselling treatments can be in curing this illness, the issue of raising awareness and, more importantly, eradicating the stigma attached to mental illness is an issue very close to my heart.”
The group is part of a local community of models and photographers who regularly publish and discuss their work on their website www.folio32.com Although just a hobby for many of the girls, they decided to put their “talents” to good use and enlist the services of award-winning local photographer Paul Crawford and Belfast Fashion Week photographer Brendan Gallagher who offered their services for free in order to make the project happen in time for the Christmas rush.
Alison Smyth of Aware Defeat Depression said of the project:
“Aware Defeat Depression is the only charity working exclusively for people who have depression in Northern Ireland and sadly we know that fear and shame still prevents many of them from asking for help. Depression affects 1 in 4 of us and is a devastating illness, which can lead to loss of life if it is not diagnosed and treated quickly. But with treatment and support people can and do recover. We welcome this calendar as a way of letting young men know there is somewhere to turn to and that it is ok to talk about depression. We thank everyone involved for donating all proceeds towards our helpline and local self-help groups which are listed on the calendars, and we really hope that people will buy one for the young men in their families, this Christmas.”
Aware’s HELPLINE number:08451 20 29 61
www.folio32.comis a new and exciting community for Photographers and models and all those associated with the photography business in Ireland. It is free to join and you can upload photographs and blogs among many other exciting features. Words cannot describe the sincere thanks that must go to the two main creatives involved:
without both, this project might not have happened, but certainly would not have had the highest levels of quality and professionalism provided FREE in the name of charity.
