New to beyondblue community forums

[Mattlappin]

Over the past 5-8 years I've been apart of beyondblue and have in the last year been apart of the blue bash and managed to raise $850 through local community fundraising (and dying my hair blue for the month of January) I wanted to go outside of my comfort zone and dye my hair to start the conversation with strangers through my work-place and in general social interactions... I would say that with the amount that I managed to raise in my small local community and having those short 5-10 minute conversations with people has brought about a small internal growth, confidence and made me more comfortable in talking about my own grief in losing someone to depression and the battles with my own mind sometimes when I am feeling at my lowest.

[Kazzl]

Hi Mattlappin! Welcome to the forum, very good to see you here. I'm with blueVoices too. Great job on the fundraising and awareness raising. It takes courage to talk about our issues, especially in the workplace, so well done. By doing that we help others but perhaps even moreso we help ourselves eh?

I've found it hard but also very liberating to be open about my struggles. And it's interesting how compassionate people can be when you do open up. Since I started being open at work I have been surprised to discover just how many people have also suffered, or have family members or friend suffering, with mental health problems. And the number who have been touched by suicide in some way is quite shocking.

I'm glad you've joined us here - take a good look around, there's a lot of activity on this forum and loads of great people.

Cheers

Kaz

xx

[geoff]

hi Mattappin, that's a great effort to raise for BB and congratulations for wanting to be part of this valuable site which has come along in heaps and bounds over the last number of years.
When you start talking to people about the effects of depression it starts to ring a bell with them, in other words they can relate to themselves or know someone else who has been in this terrible situation and realise that the site has many options which they can get help or offer support to other people.
BB and it's supporters who want to help any person who suffers from depression, want to tell the community that there is help out there, and realise that depression is just another illness that can be overcome.
It's something that has to be talked about amongst ourselves and also with professional help, because the more this is being done then the better it is for all of us.
Blue hair well that would be great to see on you. Geoff.