We are so pleased to have partnered with a wonderful and local organisation "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" who do wonderful work in the community to help fight the stigma and bring awareness to mental health issues, suicide awareness and grief. They started this wonderful and very important cause after losing their beloved brother and son Ben tragically in 2016 when he shockingly and unexpectedly took his own life. Ben seemingly had everything:
Ben was 22 years old.
Ben was employed full time.
Ben had a beautiful daughter who was 20 months old.
Ben had a close and loving family.
Ben had enough savings for a house deposit.
Ben only drank occasionally.
Ben wasn’t involved in drugs.
Ben (far right) with his father and sisters the founders of 'It's Okay Not To Be Okay'.
While his family don’t believe Ben suffered from mental health issues, they do believe he took his own life in a struggle with situational crisis and they want to help prevent others from taking the same path that he took. In 2021 we have partnered with It's Okay Not To Be Okay and their wrist bands will be included in our NICU Cheer Comfort Packs in 2022 as families of premature and/or unwell infants have some of the highest rates of post-natal depression found in new parents, in both the mothers and the fathers. The NICU is a traumatic experience for families and we are passionate about raising awareness of these issues and reducing the stigma so that more and more families are not afraid or ashamed to come forward and say "I am not okay" and to seek the help that they need from professionals who are ready and willing to help.
To see more about the girls and their wonderful organization please visit: www.facebook.com/itsoknottobeokay
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