Staff Changes and New Members!

We have had some staff promotions with Mummyhill becoming Asst Admin and Seaspirit becoming a Global Mod! These are great! There are more staff changes coming, but I know you will be as pleased as I am that these two members have stepped up yet another gear for DWD. It really is amazing how much work and time the wonderful staff give up totally voluntarily. Thank you to each of the staff members! I am truly honoured to have such a fabulous group of people on "staff"!

We have seen a rise in new members as the winter hits, the days get shorter and Christmas approaches. We offer a very very warm welcome to one and all. Don't forget that DWD is there not only for the not so good times, but the great times too.

Please remember to look out for anyone around you who may need some extra support - many of whom won't want to ask for help. Look past the "I'm OK" or "I'm fine" and really see what is going on.

Monday 26th! Plug for Ali!

A totally shameless plug after a really really busy day on the DWD forum today! We are getting busier and busier. Please remember to check up on anyone you know who may b finding things tough!

On a really positive note one of our moderators (Mummyhill) and family have carved their pumpkins and they look fab! Why not pop along and have a look at our SHOW US YOUR PUMPKINS THREAD

Another of our more than fabulous moderators Seaspirit is raising moneyby completing Skydive for Parkinsons UK on 09/04/2011!!! She is braver than me!!! PLEASE pop along to her "just giving" page and sponsor her if you can, it's for a brilliant brilliant cause and would be great to show our support to her! SPONSOR HER HERE !

25th October

Just a quick one.. Have you seen that you could win the front cover of METRO? Obviously I have entered to try to end the stigma attached to mental health illness, but I bet there are thousands of people entering! Here's the link: http://www.winthecover.co.uk/

DWD is growing in numbers and with the nights drawing in, it is worth checking that those around you are feeling ok. This time of year is so often a trigger for people with the daylight being later and ending earlier and the run up to Christmas. Be a good friend and check up on them, and don't accept "FINE" as often it means something totally different! Ask a bit more! :)

Welcome!

This is the www.dealingwithdepression.co.uk blog for the second time. The first time that I created one (using something other than blogger) the blog was taken down for "spamming!" I was shocked and still am that something which is purely there to help to raise awareness of mental health illness and depression in particular could be removed for spamming. Well each to their own! 

So, welcome to the DWD blog. I aim to show off what our members achieve, the good things - yes there ARE good things when speaking to people with depression and mental health illness! These are the things which so many people underestimate or just don't even think about. People with depression and mental health illness are just as capable of "functioning" and being "productive members of society". 

One of our members runs two online radio shows, one for children called "Kidszone"  on a Saturday Morning  and one called Musical Memories playing songs from the shows and movies on a Sunday evening. I would suggest you have a listen! The link is: www.southdevonsound.co.uk/new

The same member also is the assistant Guider at a Rainbow and Brownie Unit in Stevenage whilst also having a young child and many other things to keep her busy! 

One of our wonderful Moderators runs her own business selling slings and baby carriers. She is also a breastfeeding supporter, organises sessions where people can go and try out slings, as well as having "munchkin" and "himself" to look after too! Her new business is just fabulous and we wish her all the luck with that! Take a peek at her website: http://www.kangarinos.co.uk/

Many of our members are keen craftspeople with knitting, crochet, papercrafts being amongst some of the amazing talents that can be demonstrated if you flick through the "arts and crafts" part of our forum. 

This is a blanket made by another of our moderators Mummyhill:

This was made by one of our American members:

People with depression and mental health illness should never be overlooked. They are volunteers as can be seen through our members who volunteer their time for fund raising for various charities, for the "Street Angels" organisation, to running our forum, to looking out for people around them whilst struggling with their own "demons."

One in Four people will suffer with depression or another mental health illness during their lifetime. It's time that the stigma associated was destroyed. Come and join us to talk about the good times and the not so good times..