Glimmer of Hope in new HelpMe campaign

Depression.  How do you feel when reading that word?  Do you feel uncomfortable?  Do you feel helpless? 

The social stigma attached to depression and mental illness is one of shame and condemnation, even though a life is taken in Australia every four hours.  We should be unafraid to speak of depression, to share our stories and to make people aware that it is not a disease you must suffer alone.  There is help available.

Western Australia’s own Ros Worthington, pictured, is pushing this message with the launch of her HelpMe campaign – an initiative recently amalgamated with suicide hotline, Lifeline WA.  After her husband took his own life following depression eight years ago, Ros knew she wanted to use her philanthropic tendencies to raise the awareness of depression and suicide prevention in the nation.  She was surprised people were angry with her husband, and that they didn’t speak about him for years after he took his life. 

A few years ago she started meeting with service providers and eventually she decided LifelineWA was the right fit for HelpMe.

“They are a 24/7 counselling service, so if you wanted to pick the phone up and speak to someone because you were feeling suicidal and really low, you would get through to that crisis centre which I think is really important,” says Ros.

“I think that we can move mountains when we work together.” 

Ros says she has been inundated with people contacting her in the last two months since HelpMe joined LifelineWA.  With one in five people suffering from depression, everyone would know someone.  In fact, on average 238 West Australians take their lives very year.  With statistics like this, why aren’t we speaking about it? 

LifelineWA and HelpMe want to change the way people view depression and make people aware of just how common it is.  And when those affected need to talk, LifelineWA will be there.

The organisation needs at least another 100 counsellors, and when it takes 13 weeks to train a counsellor at $2500 per person, funding is vital.  The first fundraising and awareness initiative for HelpMe and LifelineWA is the Black Diamond Ball at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 30, 2010. 

“My whole focus is to put on the biggest and best ball that we can [and] raise many, many dollars for Lifeline by the end of the night so that we can build up the resources that they haven’t got at the moment,” Ros says. 

The night will be emceed by Ernie Dingo and Narelda Jacobs, and will include a raffle and silent auction.

As well as a great night out for a good cause, attendees can purchase the HelpMe coffee table book, Glimmer of Hope, at the ball. 

“In the book are people who are either on their journey with depression, people who are survivors, who have lost somebody to depression ... the book is totally inspirational and it’s going to be our fundraising component on the night,” Ros says.

Featuring high profile West Australians such as Courtney Murphy and Troy Cook, Glimmer of Hope proves that depression doesn’t discriminate.  Inside each $250 book will be a bookmark set with one of 1000 black diamonds donated by Rohan jewellers. 

As well as its fundraising purposes, the book is also “telling the stories of people (suffering from depression) and hopefully bringing people out from the shadows and into the light,” says Ros. 

“There’s no shame in being depressed, none whatsoever.  We’ve just been so conditioned over the years to hide it.”

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact LifelineWA on 13 11 14.

If you’re unable to attend the Black Diamond Ball, copies of Glimmer of Hope are now available for presale through rosworthington@lifelinewa.org.au.

LifelineWA are always after volunteers to be counsellors, work in their Treasure Box op-shops and help with events.  If you’re interested in helping, visit them online. 

For more information, please visit

LifelineWA:  www.lifelinewa.org.au

Ros Worthington:  www.rosworthington.com.au

Black Diamond Ball:  www.blackdiamondball.com.au

Woman on a Wire	Interview with author Sara Foster	Ros Worthington's charity: Helpme

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