Katren

I have depression. At present I am enduring a major depressive episode and I struggle to survive at times with this insidious disease. It has affected all areas of my life, physical, emotional and social. Despite all of the programs of awareness that have been about in the past few years there still seems to be a huge stigma associated with having depression. When I have told people in my life about my depression I have received a mixed bunch of reactions. Some have been very supportive, but others have been less than understanding. A few comments that I have received have been that ?maybe you are thinking about things too much? or ?just try to think positively? and ?try not to let the little things get you down?. These reactions have been very harmful in that it caused me to doubt myself, my doctor?s diagnoses and left me unsure about receiving treatment.

However, I found a lifeline on the Internet that has been incredibly supportive. This place is called depressioNet (www.depressionet.com.au). It has been a saviour for me in some of the darkest hours of my life. The resources that I have been able to access because of depressioNet have been life saving. I have managed to find a wonderful psychologist through the assistance of the dedicated team behind the scenes. The fact that there is someone available via email or chat 24 hours at day is also a huge reassurance. That there is a message board provided for members of depressioNet to go to and write out what they are experiencing has been invaluable to me. The added security that you can be anonymous does help in that I can say what I am truly feeling and experiencing without the worry of judgement or rejection. That there is a whole community of people most of whom understand what it is I am going through or can relate to what I am experiencing is a huge source of strength for me. Just knowing that I am not going through this alone that there are other people walking beside me that will help me up if I fall is an incredible source of support.

That I also have the benefit of a wonderful doctor, psychologist and soon the assistance of a psychiatrist is also a great support. However there are times when only someone who is also struggling with depression will understand what it is that I am going through. I have found that trying to explain to people what depression is like for me is very difficult if they have never been through it themselves.

The cause of my great concern at present is that there is a very real chance that I (and many thousands of people like me) will lose the truly wonderful resources of depressioNet. DepressioNet is a charitable organisation that has been created by ?people like us? for ?people like us?. At present depressioNet is trying to raise money so that it can continue to provide the wonderful services that it does. Actually, it comes down to the fact that without raising the money depressioNet will disappear. The prospect of losing one avenue of great support in this time is of huge concern to me and the huge number of people that use depressioNet regularly. While I am lucky to have some supportive friends and family a lot of people that use the website do not and it is their only means of support outside of their medical support or in some cases their only means of support.

I am asking if you could take some time to look at the good things that depressioNet does for the community and the support that it offers to all, not just those with a mental illness but also to the family, friends and carers of people who are struggling with these diseases. In particular if you could look at the D-day part of the site (http://www.depressionet.com.au/dday.html) to see if there is any way that you could promote this wonderful resource. DepressioNet needs all the help that it can get to continue to offer the support that it does.

I realise that allocating funding is very difficult to obtain in this time. However, I am not asking you for that, although any assistance in that area would, I am sure, be greatly appreciated. I am asking if you or anyone in your team would be willing to contribute to this great cause to keep this wonderful resource available freely to all those who need it so desperately.

For people in Australia that access this website to find the information that is needed to help make informed choices about treatments etc. Information that can be trusted about whatever is being considered and to help make the most informed choices. Somewhere where, when ready, someone will take their hand, if needed, to help them find the healthcare professionals and the people in the real world who could help them get the treatment and support that is needed to move forward to recovery and/or living without the symptoms of depression impacting their lives.

I am attaching a copy of the Friends of DepressioNet invite that has been posted on the website for your consideration. I realise that you must get a lot of emails and letters asking for donations and I am sure that you cannot contribute to all of them. However, incidents of depression and suicide are rising and are of great concern especially in my rural area with another round of drought affecting our region and putting livelihoods in jeopardy again.

If there is any way that you could help financially or to help all of us get this matter recognised in the media it would be of immense assistance to all of the people struggling day to day with depression.

I am sure that the Team at depressioNet would be able to answer any questions that you have regarding what is really required ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ). I am one of the members that are fearful of losing such a wonderful resource and want to do everything that I can to try and help it to continue. If there is any way that you could help I know that the team at depressioNet and all the members that rely on it would be extremely grateful.

Thank you for your time in reading this. I hope that you will consider my request and look at the wonderful place that the team has created for all of us that need it so desperately. If you have any questions for me about this matter please contact me.

Sincerely
Katren