Guest post by Judi Fairholm, National Director of the Canadian Red Cross’ RespectED: Violence & Abuse Prevention program which works in Canada and abroad to create safe environments free of violence—abuse, bullying, exploitation—through education and response. Visit www.redcross.ca to find out more.On October 10, 2012, Amanda Todd committed suicide. Unbeknownst to her, it was World Mental Health Day—since 1992 this day has been highlighted to bring awareness of and hope for mental health issues. Yet few Canadians know of this day and the millions who struggle with mental health issues.
Carol Todd, Amanda’s mother, decided to change this. She has been tirelessly working to bring awareness to Canadians and people around the world to recognize and support those in our families and communities who deal with the multiple ways mental illness impacts lives. The Light Up Purple 2014 campaign is increasing people’s awareness of World Mental Health Day and is helping to open the discussion about mental health in addition to wellness strategies.
Carol has often said that October 10, 2012 was the “perfect storm” for Amanda: she was being bullied over and over again—there seemed to be no way she could get away from it. People used social media to play on her vulnerabilities. And she used social media to tell her story. Her self-esteem was constantly attacked and her mental health, which had been an issue for her since she was a child, worsened. She could not find the support she needed. All these circumstances converged on Amanda and she lost her life.But Carol is giving Amanda’s life new meaning and purpose. By speaking out about Amanda’s situation, she is giving a voice and courage to others to do the same. Mental health issues—which are incorrectly and unjustly stigmatized in every society—are now being named and defined. Carol wants to talk about it; she wants to remember Amanda for the difference she has made and is making. “I don’t have to sit and mourn my daughter every October 10,” she says. “I can remember her and make a positive difference on this day by promoting World Mental Health Day.”
That night when Amanda used cards to tell her story to the world, she named what was happening to her. Carol has continued the dialogue and by doing so brings hope to thousands of people. Join Carol, the Amanda Todd Legacy Society, Canadian Red Cross’ RespectED: Violence & Abuse Prevention program, and dozens of other bullying prevention and mental health supporters in honouring Amanda and this day—wear something purple, use a purple light bulb, string purple lights, use purple on your social media accounts, or put purple highlights in your hair. Let’s build awareness and prevent the suffering of millions of people by shining a purple light on mental health.
{^youtubevideo|(width)560|(height)340|(rel)True|(autoplay)False|(fs)True|(url)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpLZvVQS-EU|(loop)False^}
