BMHF Holds Depression Awareness Campaign
The Bermuda Mental Health Foundation [BMHF] recently held a depression awareness and suicide prevention campaign entitled “Message In A Bottle,” which consisted of several different elements.
BMHF distributed 200 USB drift bottles throughout the island. On the USB there were several items, including a video featuring Jeremy Deacon — a veteran journalist who hosts Bernews podcasts and has previously revealed his struggle with depression — as well as fact sheets and lists of resources available.
There was also a large 8×12 canvas that has toured several locations, and volunteers encouraged members of the community to leave a message of hope to those who maybe suffering in silence.
Finally, the Foundation launched an online petition that to allow people to sign that they receive the message in the bottle. Members of the public can still visit bmhf.bm/miabc tp review the information and sign the online petition, which allows you to leave a message of hope as well.
BMHF video featuring Jeremy Deacon:
The campaign was has been a 8 week initiative and the canvass has been displayed in Washington Mall, Bermuda High School For Girls, Kind Edward Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.
“People can still go online and sign that they received the message by visiting here. Our goal was to get 100 people to leave an online message of hope. We are 31 signatures away from that goal, but there is still time,” says a spokesperson for the Foundation.
“The Foundation would like to thank all of the volunteers and participants and would like to give a special thank you to the Weekender Running Group who raised money for this campaign and the students at The Bermuda High School For Girls for making a wonderful awareness video that can be seen on the Foundations Facebook page.”
To learn more about this campaign or about the Bermuda Mental Health Foundation please visit www.bmhf.bm or call 400-5634. If your or a loved one suffers from depression or is considering suicide as a option please call 236-3770, which is the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institutes crisis hotline.
I really appreciate this man coming forward with his personal experience. Often times mental illness such as depression is not talked about due to the stigma that surrounds the condition.
Hopefully it might help.