Blog For Mental Health 2013

Here we are, still within the first month of 2013.  A few days into it, but it is never too late to get something like this rolling.

Last year’s badge

Something like what?  Why, it’s time to unveil the Blog for Mental Health 2013 Badge!  Lulu started this amazing campaign last year, and it caught on like wildfire with mental health bloggers everywhere.  They proudly took the pledge, spread the word to other bloggers, and displayed the badge prominently on their blogs.  You’ve seen it in our sidebar, I’ve seen it on nearly every mental health site I visit.  It has truly been an unprecedented show of solidarity.

Lulu wrote in her original post:

Many people suffering from Bipolar Disorder do so in silence.  Prior to this blog, I could have included myself.  This blog is meant for others to experience living with this disorder the way I, and many others, do.  It is also for others to find their voice here and to know that they are not alone in their struggle.  Lastly, it is to encourage dialogue and community between bipolar bloggers.

Sometimes it’s interesting.  Sometimes it’s sad and at other times it sounds crazy.  Grab the pendulum, and hold on for dear life.  Otherwise, you just might end up in the pit.

But she wanted to include all of us dealing with mental health issues, because it isn’t always as simple as one diagnosis, and even when it is, we are all still in this together, and we are stronger when we stand up as one.

This morning, I found myself interested in an official blogging project to raise awareness for mental health education.  I sifted through Google for a while, unable to find anything like it.  And I thought, “Why don’t I start one?”  It would be easy!  All I would need to do is produce a graphic and some instructions.

This year, through her own blog, Sunny With a Chance Of Armageddon  (if you haven’t noticed or been notified, she has moved her home base), and right here through Canvas as well, she gave us the chance to look through her amazing creations, and vote on which badge we as a community wanted to represent Blog For Mental Health 2013.

There were a number of popular choices, but one clear winner stood out amongst them.  So, without further ado, the badge that was selected by you for this year’s Blog for Mental Health campaign. . .

It’s something really special!

Now here is where we get to the meat of how this amazing (yet simple) campaign works.

First, so you know, this isn’t an award.  I want to make that plain, because I know that many bloggers feel that the blogging awards passed along, however well-intentioned, sometimes have a bit of a “chain mail” feel to them.  No, this campaign is something else entirely.  As introduced by its creator, it goes like this:

1.) Take the pledge by copying and pasting the following into a post featuring “Blog for Mental Health 2013″.

I pledge my commitment to the Blog For Mental Health 2013 Project.  I will blog about mental health topics not only for myself, but for others.  By displaying this badge, I show my pride, dedication, and acceptance for mental health.  I use this to promote mental health education in the struggle to erase stigma.

2.) Link back to the person who pledged you.

You can consider this an open pledge, so feel free to link to A Canvas Of The Minds and this post!

3.) Write a short biography of your mental health, and what this means to you.

(Note:  This is the original piece written by Lulu last year.)

I have been symptomatic of Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety for most of my life. I was incorrectly diagnosed with MDD [Major Depressive Disorder] in my teens, and suffered in silence. After my son was born in 2008, I went on to experience a severe relapse in symptoms considered to be postpartum psychosis. Several months later, I sought treatment and was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II.

That was almost three years ago now. Today, I am experiencing the longest stable state I’ve ever had, going on three months now. I am still hesitant to say that I am in remission.

This pledge is my opportunity to commit to mental health awareness. I can publicly display this badge to instantly tell my audience what this is all about. And, I can encourage others within the mental health community that have a Dx to do the same.

4.) Pledge five others, and be sure to let them know!

I am pledging five of my fellow bloggers who have stood with me, and have proven their mettle in my eyes as mental health bloggers.

(Note:  With this piece, we are pledging more than five; we begin this year by pledging all of our Canvas bloggers.)

Alice, of  aliceatwonderland
Soul Survivor, of  Bipolar For Life
Bold & Indie, of  Bold & Indie
DeeDee, of  Disorderly Chickadee
Sailor, of  Hello Sailor
Ruby, of  I Was Just Thinking. . .
James, of  James Claims
Lunch Sketch, of  Lunch Sketch
Monday, of  Manic Monday
ManicMuses, of  Manic Muses
Paz, of  Melancholically Manic Mouse
Summer Solstice Girl, of  Summer Solstice Musings
Lulu, of  Sunny With a Chance Of Armageddon
Angel, of  The Mirth of Despair
The Quiet Borderline, of  The Quiet Borderline
Sarah Ellen, of  The Seascapechronicles’ Blog

As mentioned above, if you happen upon this without being pledged, we still pledge you.  Feel free to take the pledge!  Promote awareness!

5.) And, as something novel for 2013, Lulu and I ask one more thing of you.

As you may have noticed, Canvas does not keep an official blogroll, outside of links to our authors’ personal blogs.  For something new and special to introduce Blog For Mental Health 2013, and really build a sense of community — and show everyone how many of us there are, and how strong we are, coming together — we are launching a Blog For Mental Health 2013 Official Blogroll!  So, in addition to linking back to the person who pledged you, please include the link to this original post in your piece.  As this gets passed along, click here and leave a comment containing the link to your pledge, and we will put you on our Blog For Mental Health 2013 Official Blogroll page!  Show the world our strength, show them our solidarity, show them what we are made of.  Take the Blog for Mental Health pledge and proudly display the badge on your blog!

And may we all have a happy, healthy 2013!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Important note from Ruby:

Please, everyone:  If you want to be included on our Blog For Mental Health 2013 Official Blogroll, and have your post shared by us via facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, you must leave a comment on the page with a link to your Blog For Mental Health post specifically.  Make sure to read the original Blog For Mental Health 2013 launch post, it explains the concept behind this project and gives you an idea of what your post should contain.

I really want to include everyone, but a comment on the blogroll page with the link to your Blog For Mental Health 2013 post is necessary for this (just a link to your site doesn’t help me!).  Thank you so much for participating, and for helping me out here by following these three simple steps:

1. Read the Blog For Mental Health 2013 original launch post.
2. Write a post of your own that follows the directions for making your Blog For Mental Health 2013 pledge.
3. Copy and paste the link to that specific post into a comment on the Blog For Mental Health 2013 Official Blogroll page.  You won’t see your comment, but I will comment back to you on that post on your blog so you know you’ve been added and had your post shared by us.

Also, as you write your posts, please make sure you pass this message along.  You’ll want the people whom you pledge to have their posts shared through Canvas as well!

Love,
Ruby

© Ruby Tuesday and A Canvas Of The Minds 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ruby Tuesday and A Canvas Of The Minds with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.