I Love Birthdays On Facebook

I love birthdays period! It’s a time for catching up with others and letting them know that you’re thinking of them on their birthday, as well as receiving greetings on your own birthday. Facebook birthdays take it to a new level though, especially once you get past a certain number of friends on that platform.

Having friends across the world on social media can mean that you have a two day birthday, as everyone from different time zones catches up to say g’day! And it can take another two days to reply to them all! Very indulgent methinks.

But this year, I’ve decided to try something different for my birthday. Rather than it being all about me, I’m asking people to donate a few dollars to the “Black Dog Institute”, an Australian charity that’s about creating a mentally healthier world by turning research into action.

Although I’d heard of them before, I became more aware of the work that this organisation does through my friend Ric Raftis, who over the years has been very active in fundraising through his involvement with the Black Dog Ride. I met Ric on Facebook in 2007, long before “fake news” became an issue, and when people were a lot friendlier there.

There are a number of other charities that you can choose to support on Facebook as well.

I chose the Black Dog Institute because I have known a number of friends over the years that have suffered from depression, and have seen some of the suffering that they have gone through. These are people who have been religious, atheist, agnostic, veterans, administrators and labourers. In fact, mental illness can strike anyone from any walk of life, anywhere.

There are different types of depression, ranging from situations where someone is dealing with grief, separation or other life issues, to the deeper problems of psychotic depression and major depressive order. Please note that I am not writing about depression in detail here, I am only scratching the surface. If you would like to know more about the types of depression, check Beyond Blue!

If you are feeling depressed and need help, please see your doctor or a counsellor.

One of the problems with mental illness is that it carries a stigma, and fear for many as well. The only way to get around this is for people to be able to access the help that they need without judgement. What I like about organizations such as Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute is that apart from supporting more research, they have brought the topic out into the open.

That’s why I’m asking people to donate just a few dollars to the Black Dog Institute for my birthday this year. Every bit counts, and you never know who the research that the Institute supports will eventually help, it may be one of your own loved ones, or someone in your community.

You can find the link to my Facebook Fundraiser below, just in case you wish to donate (donations are easy, and can be made via Paypal, neither Facebook or I handle the money). Imagine what we could do to improve the well being of others by donating just $5.00 each!