Skylight's Christmas Appeal 2018

Kia ora whānau

It’s that time of year again. The red of the pohutakawa budding against an almost perfect blue sky. At work we look forward to our end of year celebrations, colleagues chat about what they are buying their loved ones for Christmas. The shops are full of Christmas decorations. Everything, everywhere reminding us that Christmas is just around the corner.

Unfortunately, this is not always the season of glad tidings of comfort and joy for everyone.

After a suicide, a bereavement, a serious diagnosis, a significant loss or life change of any kind, the holidays can be a time of dread. The pain of sitting down to Christmas dinner when a loved one is missing from the table can be an unbearable reminder of your loss. Our rangatahi may be mourning the loss of friends and class mates. Our friends, whānau and colleagues may be facing bereavements and struggles they don’t want to talk about.

Since the launch of the Resilience Hub the Skylight Resource Centre has had an increase in demand for suicide support of 71% over the same period last year. At this point last year, I recall thinking that ‘this is as bad as it gets’, sadly it is not.

Right now Skylight needs your support so that we can continue to support those facing tough times. A gift of $20 can support our Resource Centre to continue to provide free specialised information packs to anyone in Aotearoa. A gift of $50 could help someone access counselling who may not otherwise be able to afford it. A gift of $100 could help see the development of new trauma informed resources for children, young people and whānau.

Thank you for taking the time to read our appeal and for considering supporting Skylight this Christmas.

We wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season.

Ngā mihi nui

Heather