Liptember – a cause worth supporting

Just wanted to draw your attention to a great initiative that kicks off on September 1st!

image: liptember.com

Liptember is an Australian charity event that is designed to raise awareness of and money to fund projects and services for women’s mental health. This year, funds are being donated to the Centre for Women’s Mental Health and Lifeline Australia (Lifeline provides free telephone counselling 24 hours a day across Australia, to both women and men).

The idea with Liptember is that you must wear the nominated lippie for the entire month of September! Every day. This year it is a Burt’s Bees tinted lip gloss:

image: peppermintmag.com

It is easy to get involved – sign up on the official website, buy the official lippie, get some sponsors together, and away you go! Alternatively you can simply buy the lippie at Myer and Lorna Jane stores throughout Australia.

You might be wondering… Why am I not talking about my own fundraising for this campaign? Unfortunately I am allergic to Burts’ Bees lip products (they make my lips burn and peel like there’s no tomorrow) and the rules for the event specify you MUST only wear that particular product. This means there’s no point in me even grabbing a tube and supporting the campaign that way which sucks!

However, if YOU are participating please put a link to your fundraising page in the comments section below – I would like to make a donation to support you in your efforts.

Mental health is a serious issue. Unfortunately, as in nations like the United States, the prevalence of depressive illnesses, anxiety disorders and mental health issues seems to be growing in Australia. It is estimated that 1 in 4 Australians WILL experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. I think that us Aussies are becoming more aware of mental health issues and the importance of looking after one’s psychological as well as physical wellbeing, but it still remains a taboo subject for many. If such issues are affecting you, don’t sit in the shadows – get help! A better future for yourself can start today.

Please support this campaign and again – let me know if you are participating!

Useful links:

• Official Liptember website
• Lifeline (or phone 13 11 44 if in Australia)
• Beyond Blue

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I’d also like to mention that tomorrow is International Overdose Awareness Day. I am supporting this campaign directly and will be wearing my silver ribbon tomorrow. If you see people wearing a silver ribbon tomorrow and/or heaps of silver clothing, that (may be) what it’s for! People can overdose accidentally and on medication that they have been prescribed; there is a lot of stigma associated with this issue and so the day is designed to spread knowledge and further understanding.

The official site is here at overdoseday.com

image: reneweveryday.com