Ric Raftis Helping To Beat
 
Depression And Tame
 
The Black Dog!

 

Bush poet, search engine optimization guru and good friend Ric Raftis has joined the 2011 Black Dog Ride to Alice Springs to promote awareness of mental health issues!

Departing 21 August 2011, Ric and a number of other riders their homes and head to Alice Springs on motorcycles, participating in the Black Dog Ride.

The Purpose of The Black Dog Ride

The Black Dog Ride is designed to promote awareness of depression and to destigmatise mental health issues.

Steve Andrews completed the first Black Dog Ride back in 2009 by riding all around Australia and raising funds for the Black Dog Institute along the way.

In 2010 the concept was continued, but changed where riders would come from all capital cities in Australia and head for Alice Springs.

The 2011 ride is following the same format!

You can findmore here on Rics site!

Mental Health Discrimination

While attitudes today are more enlightened towards mental illness to day, ignorance and discrimination still exist, even at top levels of Government!

Take for instance the case of (NSW, Australia) Magistrate Brian Maloney

Mr Maloney was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder after a couple of court room incidents.

Since his diagnosis and treatment, Mr Maloney’s condition has been brought under control, but he now faces dismissal from the Judiciary, and loss of entitlements such as a pension.

One wonders how far this will set back campaigns such as those by Beyond Blue and The Black Dog Institute to remove the stigma of mental illness.

BeyondBlue

BeyondBlue is the Australian National Depression Initiative. You can find them here!

The organization’s website has a number of articles relating to different forms of depression.

There are links to enable people to get involved, or to seek help with depression.

In Australia, You can call BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636

The Black Dog Institute

The Black Dog Institute is a non profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility.

The Institute offers specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder.

You can find The Black Dog Institute here.

Help With Depression

In Australia, you can contact organizations such as BeyondBlue, The Black Dog Institute and Lifeline.

You can also contact your local doctor or other health professional.

Depression should not go untreated!

Elsewhere in the world, Google depression help + your country, or see your local doctor.

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