Friday, November 13, 2009

To Write Love On Her Arms

Today is International To Write Love On Her Arms Day. TWLOHA is a non-profit movement to raise awareness and provide hope and support for people struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, and self-injury.

Being one who fights depression and anxiety on a daily basis, and also one who has self-injured, this is an important issue for me.

Some of the salient points:

* 121 million people in the world struggle with depression; 18 million in the U.S.

* 2/3 of people who suffer with depression will not seek treatment

* an estimated 4% of the population self-injures as a way to cope with emotional pain

People who struggle with these issues are not seeking attention (most will try to hide their symptoms and scars), are not "emo" or crazy or manipulative. They are real people, feeling real pain, and coping the best way they know how.

If someone you know deals with any of these struggles (and at least one does, since you're reading my blog and therefore know me), then show that you care. Show that you support the movement, give hope to millions.

Write "Love" on your arms today. mk

Mark wrote Love on his arms. He's bringing a Sharpie to school so that he can get his friends to do it, too.

If even one person at the high school who has these issues sees this demonstration of support, maybe they will find a scrap of hope.
Hope is there.

Rescue is possible.

To Write Love On Her Arms

3 comments:

Capt. Brenda said...

As an aside, light comment, not meant to detract from the importance of this movement and the day in particular...the people whose arms are photographed here are obviously right-handed. Love the script...looks like a professional tattoo.

Love to you.

markira said...

Those are my arms. Nope, not a tattoo. :) Yes, I'm very right-handed. The "Love" on my right arm is supposed to look like cutting, though. mk

Anonymous said...

The information here is great. I will invite my friends here.

Thanks