Living life by seeing the Brighter side isn’t easy. To the average person, we can make it a choice. But not everyone can make that choice. I’m talking about Mental Illness. Not long ago there was a Mental Illness campaign that tried to get the word out about who Mental Illness affects. It was a commercial that showed a drawing board with a pointer. On the drawing board was a picture of Earth. The message was, Mental Illness can affect anyone, but you can’t always see it. It’s not a condition you can see. It’s not a condition you can put a cast on to fix. It’s not a condition you choose to be in either.
Just talk to Lee Horbachewski. She’s a suicide survivor, who lives with depression. And now Lee is taking a stand to help reduce the stigma and build awareness for Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention. Her Going Blue 4 U campaign is passionate about raising $40,000 to be donated to local charitable organizations that provide resources and support for Mental Illness. In Calgary, the funds will support the Distress Centre. The entire team will all dye their hair blue if they reach their goal. There are 10 days left for the Going Blue 4 U awareness campaign putting a colorful spin on “The Blues”.
Mental Illness impacts nearly 6 million Canadians, which is 20% of our population. Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among Canadians aged 15-24 and 16% of all deaths for the age group 25-44.
“Together we have the Power to Change and Reduce the Stigma that surrounds Mental Illness and suicide. The only way we will is by more and more people talking about it without judgment and fear.”
Lee Horbachewski has a vision: “To Empower You to Shine Bright & Steady, to be Aware, Accept and take Action by living life authentically and realizing you are never alone.” Truth that you CAN live on The Brighter Side. It’s not always easy, and you may need a helping hand along the way!
Hold Lee’s hand, and please help her with her vision. To donate to the Going Blue 4 U campaign, go to www.goingblue4u.ca
Going Blue 4 U Edmonton's Angela Watt speaks with CTV's Carmen Leibel about Mental Illness and the Going Blue 4 U Campaign to raise awareness and reduce the stigma.
Monday marks world mental health day and one Calgary woman is dying her hair blue in hopes of raising money and awareness.
Lee Horbachewski is quite simply put, a survivor she was hospitalized back in 2004 in the psychiatric ward for depression and says she even attempted suicide. She tells 660News how she is giving up her beautiful blonde locks to dye them blue. Blue of course representing "The blues" of depression.
She explains why its so important, "There's so much stigma around it and the truth is it's a disease, it's not a weakness of character, it's a disease, that many people don't seek treatment for because of the stigma around it."
Horbachewski adds, "We are up to $1,350 so, if it's up to $2,000 I'll do two streaks on Monday and just keep going." For more information on "Going Blue 4 U" click on this link: http://simpleeserene.com/wellness-topics/going-blue-4-u
October 9, 2011
Times Colonists / by Richard Watts
VICTORIA, BC - Laurel Hounslow is turning blue - but it's not bluenote sadness.
Her hair now has a blue streak to show Hounslow's determination and thankfulness after her daughter reemerged from three years of medical depression.
Hounslow, a real estate agent in Saanich, had about
one quarter of her grey hair dyed blue Saturday as
she embarked on a money-raising campaign to
battle for depression treatment and suicide
prevention. Money raised will go to the Vancouver
Island Crisis Line. Read the rest of the article here.
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to meet one of the most inspirational people in my life. She has touched my heart and my soul. Her name is Lee Horbachewski. She has been fighting depression for more than six years and in honor of Mental Health Awareness week, she will be dying her hair blue this November to help raise funds and awareness for mental illness and suicide prevention.
Its part of the Going Blue 4 U campaign. The Mental Health Association is an organization that’s near and dear to my heart. And it was through my own brother who I lost, due to mental health issues, that I learned to understand the pain that no one else can see.
One Calgary woman will be going blue to raise money for those feeling blue.
Lee Horbachewski, who has been fighting depression for more than six years, will be dying her hair blue this November to help raise funds and awareness for mental illness and suicide prevention. Read the rest of the article here.
s a suicide attempt survivor who lives with depression, Calgarian, Lee Horbachewski is taking a stand to help reduce the stigma and build awareness for mental illness and suicide prevention. Read the rest of the article here.
October 5, 2011
Global TV Early News / Heather Yourex
CALGARY – Every year, 4,000 Canadians tragically die by the own hand, many of them still very
young.
It's a tragic truth that a Calgary man and woman wish to change.
Most could never tell that Jaeson Cardoff's young life has been filled with dark days or that Lee
Horbachewski has struggled just as one out of every five Canadians do.
Living life by seeing the Brighter side isn’t easy. To the average person, we can make it a choice. But not everyone can make that choice. I’m talking about Mental Illness. Not long ago there was a Mental Illness campaign that tried to get the word out about who Mental Illness affects. It was a commercial that showed a drawing board with a pointer. On the drawing board was a picture of Earth. The message was, Mental Illness can affect anyone, but you can’t always see it. It’s not a condition you can see. It’s not a condition you can put a cast on to fix. It’s not a condition you choose to be in either.
Monday marks world mental health day and one Calgary woman is dying her hair blue in hopes of raising money and awareness.
