The concept is pretty much the same as the "Fuck Cancer" bracelets where the money that is raised from those bracelets goes to Cancer research, a great cause if you ask me!
Mine is personalized and says "Stay Strong". What's special about this bracelet? Tess ordered it from a girl in her class who makes them and then gives money to an organization that works towards making it more okay to talk about depression and mental illnesses in society. Unfortunately there's a big stigma regarding depression in today's society. Why is it more okay to talk about illnesses like Cancer, while a person who suffers from depression is in my opinion, more often then not seen as a "freak" or someone "abnormal".. Why?!
The girl that Tess purchased the bracelet from has suffered from depression herself and now she makes these bracelets for said organization, (don't know what it's called, I should find out).
If you know me you know why this is so important for me.. I am a proud bracelet wearer and want to contribute to stopping the stigma of depression and mental illness as it is way more common then people might realize. 1/4 of the worlds population will at some point in their lives be affected by some kind of mental illness, be it depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, OCD etc. Out of seven billion people on this planet, well do the math.. It's a whole lot..
I know multiple people who suffer from some kind of mental illness. Friends, friends family members etc. To me it doesn't make sense that it's portrayed as something abnormal or weird. It needs to be addressed and discussed, people who are affected need love, help and support. It's not a choice, just like a person doesn't choose to get Cancer. It's just something that happens.
I hope that it will start to become more accepted in our society and not something that is made to seem shameful..
Together we can break the stigma and change the atmosphere for every single person affected, I think it's necessary to make it less of a big deal and normalize mental illnesses in order for those affected to build up courage to come forth and ask for help.. Imagine living in a world with a condition that some people label as abnormal.. Imagine how daunting that must be, to admit to people around you and to yourself that you are affected.
Let's break the stigma once and for all!!
xxx
Gaithri