Suicide and Depression

I recently received this message-

I live in a small town like you once did. I have just gone though the hardest week of my life. I have just lost a friend that killed himself because he was going through a hard time?
Sorry I'm writing to you about something like this!!! But I just don't get it.
Ive done it hard over the years, but just cant get my head around why someone that has so many friends and family, goes and does this. I guess at the end of the day, I'm now sad that I have just lost a friend that I couldn't help.
Everyone that I've spoken to about (name) didn't see it coming at all, nor did I.



I can not tell you how much of an honor it is to have people come to me for advice, information or a listening ear on this. But this isn't about me... it's about understanding depression.

Before I start I have to say I have no formal qualifications in Depression, Physiology or counselling. I am a person who has spent an abundance of hours, days, weeks & months trying to reduce the stigma surrounding depression and helping others understand Depression.

The easiest way I can try to explain suicide lead from depression is... When someone dies from cancer, car accidents or heart disease we easily understand the death (it doesn't make it any less sad, just easier to understand) however because most people don't understand suicide and depression it leaves thoughts like why, how, I didn't know. Some people will even think of it as a selfish act.

If you switch your mindset so instead of thinking he commit suicide....think he died from a disease... they died from depression.

Happy people do not commit suicide sad, lonely and depressed people do. Someone who suffers from depression is extremely good at hiding and disguising it. So although they may have had friends and family around them they are just unable to see a way out from the deep dark hole they are in.
There is so much help available for anyone going through this the first port of call is a GP Beyond Blue have a list of GP's who specialise in Mental Illness all you have to do is type in your postcode and a list of GP's in your area will appear.
If you urgently need to speak to someone out of hours call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800

Here are some interesting facts on suicide and depression from my peeps over at SANE

Suicide, self-harm and mental illness

Having a mental illness is recognised as one of the highest risk factors for suicidal
behaviour and self-harm, yet many people do not receive the practical help they
need to reduce the risk of further attempts . . .


Does talking about suicidal feelings help?
20% Provided with suicide crisis plan
73% Talked about suicidal feelings

After a suicide attempt, are people given help to reduce the risk of it happening again?
20% Provided with suicide crisis plan
80% Not provided with suicide crisis plan

Are people at risk of suicide recognised as having a mental health problem?
64% Diagnosis of mental illness
36% No prior diagnosis

Are people provided with psychological therapy after a suicide attempt?
43% Referred for psychological therapy

Full the full report on self harm from mental illness click here

If you have lost someone from suicide you can read this to hopefully help shed some light.

Bra Review on Underwear of Sweden

SYLVIA

Cost- $49.00

Lift- 9/10

Separation- 9/10

Quality- 9/10

Shape- 9/10

Material- 9/10

Appearance-9/10

Over All- 9/10


Bra Queen's Comments- I love the quality of this bra. Before I even seen it on I could see how well made this bra is, it's a well structured bra. When I seen Sylvia on it confirmed that it has a great shape and it looks fabulous... the price of Underwear of Sweden bras are SO AFFORDABLE and the value for money is awesome because you're getting internationally designed lingerie but it's still an Australian small business how good is that!

Sizes 10 to 16, A to E Cups

If you would like to check out more of the Underwear of Sweden range or to see your nearest stockist you can go to www.uwos.com.au

Get Over Yourself!

Funny things happen as life goes on don’t they?

As my heart hurts and I don’t really know why…. I find myself thinking of my loved ones that have past and as much as they bring a smile to face and I feel myself embraced in a memory I feel fear and I don’t know why. I fear the older I get the older my loved ones get and it scares me to think that something *touchwood* would happen to them…

Everyone brings something unique and something special to the table… to the world. You know people feel on so many different levels and sometimes out of fear we block out some elements of our feelings, of ourselves.

When we judge and criticise other people it doesn’t come from their mistakes it comes from ours and who are we to do judge?

What do you bring to the table?

Is a question we all need to ask ourselves… we tend to only think about ourselves and how we feel but stop and think about everyone around us because you know what? We… you are not perfect. You say “tomato” and I say “tom’ato” there are two sides to every story. We can go through the exact same thing and view things totally differently, it doesn’t mean I’m wrong or you’re wrong it means we’re human and that’s the way the world works. We’re both right… if you are so hung up on one aspect of a story then you will miss the entire meaning of the story and that’s not good.

We have to remember what makes you smart? Guaranteed it’s not what makes me smart or your next door neighbour. For every time you think someone isn’t very smart is the very time you have to remember that it’s you that just doesn’t get ‘it’

Everyone has the freedom to be, the freedom to think and the freedom to live…

Don’t judge… don’t be that person you’re so much better then that.

Academic grills three-year-olds on their sexuality

Last week the Herald Sun publish an article called Academic grills three-year-olds on their sexuality where Monash University's Dr Mindy Blaise, who spent five days at an unnamed childcare centre, wants sexuality to be an official subject at kinders and preschool centres.

* Children asked about flirting, kissing
* Research inappropriate, says psychologist
* Discussions about homosexuality

CHILDREN as young as three have been questioned about kissing and flirting in a project by a Melbourne university researcher.

I too am absolutely outraged by this! I am all for research, innovation and making this world a better place but this is ridiculous and it has gone too far...

The one thing that our children have is their innocence and their freedom to be

Why would we even want analyse and jeopardise that is beyond me.
Why do we want to put our own social issues onto our children?

I love the fact that my girls can kiss and cuddle their friends just because they love them. There is nothing sinister, sexy or flirtatious about it.

My daughter says "Woohoo Sexy" all the time and there is nothing sexual about it she just thinks it's a way of expressing how someone looks and if any judgemental dirty minded person takes it any other way then that is their problem and I feel sorry for them.

The beauty of being a kid is saying whatever pops into your mind and we love their honesty don't we?

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY DeBra's

To celebrate what has been an amazing 10 years for DeBras they are having a MASSIVE SALE 25% OFF all your favourite brands Triumph, Playtex, Berlei, Panache, Fayre Form , Bella Bodies and Curvy Kate. Offer ends 30th May so BE QUICK.

www.debras.com.au

When I first spoke to Debra Kinney the founder of DeBras I could see the burning desire, the passion and the love in her eyes when she said this "I want to have bras for every body". 10 years later and it continues to ooze out of her and that's what I love about her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBRA!

The Debate on Bigger Busts

This week we seen on ACA about the new M Cup Bra, well the not so new because I know my girl Debra over at DeBras has stocked it for quite some time. So it's matter of it being available however no one importing it or not many.

Anyway that's not my debate! My debate is-

"Professionals" saying that our growing bust size is due to our growing waist line which I think is a complete load of bollocks.

We are just better educated about bras, we are catering for larger cup sizes so we aren't squeezing ourselves into small bras and we have fantastic Lingerie Boutiques that excel in bra fittings. We are actually smaller in the back with a growing amount of women being fitted with back size of 6 and 8 and cup sizes of F to J. So it's really not a matter of "Growing waist lines" at all.

Here's what Chiropractor Dr Simon Floreani says there are a number of contributing factors to our ever growing bust sizes.

"Expanding waist lines" he says is one of them.

"And there's other factors like there is oestreogen inhibotors or hormone disruptor's in much of our food, our diet, our lifestyle," he says.

Good bra support is of vital importance with heavy breasts. That I totally 100% agree with!

I stand by what I always say "Stand in the mirror side on and if your girls are south then you are wearing the wrong bra. Whether you are a D Cup or and M Cup. It's makes no difference."

Damaris Lingerie the International Player....

Damaris prevails as the ‘international player’ for lingerie


On the 13th May 2010, Europe’s biggest exhibition organizers, media partners and
fashion players gathered at The Landmark London for The UK Fashion & Textile Export Awards. Presented since 1986 by HRH The Princess Royal, President of the UKFT and the event’s organizer, the awards are the fashion industry’s very own Oscars to recognise outstanding sales performance beyond the UK domestic market.



Damaris was the official winner in the lingerie/beachwear category, sponsored by
Salon International de la Lingerie, the prize was a stand at Mode City Paris in September. This prestigious award was granted to a small and thriving business whose growth is dependent of representing Britain in international trade. Of the two brands under Damaris Ltd, Damaris, and particularly the diffusion line- Mimi Holliday,has seen extensive development in export season on season.



Since 2007, Mimi Holliday Collections have increased in stories and styles by 300%, offering 16 stories and two continuity lines. An 188% increase in sales over the past year is directly linked to the continued commitment and growing investment into four annual trade shows. Such events not only support the growth of current accounts, they also allow crucial contact with new customers, from which there is vast demand to see the collections first hand.

The deputy director of UKFT, Paul Alger, described prior to the event that being shortlisted for, or even winning an award, “tells the world unequivocally that the business is an international player and is a great encouragement to all who work for a successful exporter by recognising the contribution of the whole team”. The event was hosted by actress and campaigner Joanna Lumley, who was also keen on receiving her ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ Damaris underwear.

www.damaris.co.uk