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Shave for Life Matters

  • Grace's Story

      11 May 2022

    Grace: I’m 22 and currently studying to be a Vet Nurse!

    Mental Health has been something I have struggled with for a while now and It took me a long time to come to terms with. It was in my later high school years where I found myself spiralling into my depression and didn’t know where to go or what to do. When I finally reached out for help, with the support from my close friends, It was honestly a lifeline and I’d be lying if I said it was an easy ride after that. A few years later, I began noticing anxiety creeping in. I still today go through the highs and the low lows that depression and anxiety throw at me and is an on-going personal battle. I find talking to others and relating our own experiences so important cause mental health can honestly be so isolating.

    I know of many people that have taken their own lives because of mental health. Hearing the news that another familiar face or name have lost their battle to this never gets easier. And is why I am wanting to raise money for Life Matters. Mental health is a huge issue and we need to talk about it. So when people ask why I shaved my hair, It is a perfect conversation starter which can sometimes be the talk they need to make it through the day.

    I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for the five guys that started this. They are all such amazing friends of mine and am so proud of them. These guys have helped me get through some of my darkest days so to honour them, I will join them in this shave.

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  • Sam's Story

      11 May 2022

    Mental health is something that has affected me my whole life, from a very early age I would find myself feeling different to other kids at school, I was incredibly anxious all of the time and would call myself stupid a lot and even resort to hurting myself because of how angry I was for having these thoughts. I would always try and stick to myself as much as possible as I felt that talking to people would make me seem weird or stupid. These thoughts continued throughout my teenage years and I found it very hard socialising with other people. This caused me to spend a lot of time on my own, away from the real world, finding comfort in television and snack foods.

    At the age of seventeen, I lost my mother to ovarian cancer. During this time, I became incredibly depressed and detached from the world. I dealt with my problems through unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking. A few months later I was working in a kitchen/bar, pulling in around 70 hours a week. I found that this was a useful distraction that would earn me enough money to one day escape my life.

    At the age of nineteen, I moved to New Zealand on a working holiday visa to go and see a bit of the world outside of my comfort zone. This trip did wonders for my confidence and opened my mind to my own social abilities, of which I never knew existed. Although this big change helped me a lot, I still had some of the darkest days of my life and would find myself struggling with anxiety and depression a lot more than usual. Having ups and downs on a regular basis and still feeling like I was stupid for feeling these thoughts. I couldn't understand why something that was supposed to make me happy just wasn't. I continued to battle with my brain again and again.

    Last year, I had the biggest year of my life in terms of my mental health. After battling for so long, I found a group of people who have also been through similar experiences with their mental health and it made me realise that I wasn't alone in feeling this way and that the best way to fight these feelings is by accepting, speaking and working with them. These people ended up becoming some of the closest people in my life right now.

    From my own experience with mental health and through listening to the experiences of my close friends and family members who have also dealt with mental health, I have decided that I will join these amazing people who have made such a difference to my life in shaving our heads for suicide awareness.

    My partner Grace and I will be doing the chop tomorrow afternoon and will be getting plenty of beanies prepared for the winter ahead.

    It's important that we keep talking about mental health and sharing our experiences. You never know what's going on in someone's head, so please be kind to each other. Life is too short, don't be a dick. ❤

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  • Two Exciting New Updates

      11 May 2022
    Main image

    Firstly: The 5 of us are all happily enjoying our shaved heads! We may be a bit cold going into a Dunedin winter, but are thrilled with our new looks, and it was well worth it to have raised so much for this cause. We are all so thrilled with how much money we have raised so far so a big thank you to everyone for your support. Attached is a photo of Caleb, Shamilka and Georgia getting together to celebrate.

    Second: Sam and Grace have decided to join us and are shaving their heads together this Thursday. A massive thank you to them both for helping us and raising some more money for Life Matters as well as doing their bit to spread mental health awareness. See future updates to read their stories

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  • Briar's Story

      29 March 2022

    Briar/B - I have always been well acquainted with mental illness yet never felt worthy of being so unhappy so I never talked about it. By 12 I was so anxious I was pulling my hair out and having to hide bald patches from my classmates but it wasn’t until I went to university that I had to really face my problems.

    I moved down to Dunedin from Rotorua in 2017 with grand dreams of studying medicine. My first year put me through the wringer, the pressure made my anxiety sky-rocket and by mid-year I was on medication that made me so numb I couldn’t get out of bed. This clearly wasn’t working so I dropped out of uni, picked up the first job I could find and changed my medication. I thought my life was a mess and to be fair, it was nothing like I had planned but the friends I made during that time and the years to follow are some of the best people I have ever met. I found my village and their constant love and support has been instrumental in me coming off medication and I can now say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

    You know your friends are supportive when they shave their heads with you!!

    So thank you to everyone who has helped along the way and those that continue to help. Mental illness is a constant battle but having friends to laugh and to cry with makes it a lot easier.

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  • Georgia's Story

      27 March 2022

    Georgia - 22 - Dunedin born and raised with big ideas to travel the world someday!

    My hair has always been a huge part of my identity. Growing up I had very long hair until January 2019 I went from thigh length to shoulder length hair.

    Mental health is not an easy topic to talk about for many of us especially when going through lows. Becoming a young adult is a fast paced and confusing time. Everyone is finding their own paths which can be exciting but extremely stressful.

    It's no secret that these last couple of years have been stressful for everyone! For myself and my family it's been a crazy ride. None of us could have got through it without each other along with our own individual support teams. The support from neighbors, friends, co workers and medical professionals has been so warming. Throughout this journey with my family I have learnt that support comes in all different shapes and sizes and there should never be shame in asking for it or accepting it if it comes your way.

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  • Caleb's Story

      27 March 2022

    For what I remember of my life my mental health and emotions have been difficult at the best of times. A combination of traumas and genetic predisposition have meant I was dealt a pretty rough hand when it comes to being able to fully love myself, or to trust others. At times I've felt like my own worst enemy, battling with my brain and how I think, often believing the world is out to get me. It's only really because of a selection of exceptional friends and family members that I've been able to get through my lowest moments, when everything felt so loud and overwhelming without any sign of a way out. Being asked and allowed to be vulnerable around these people has pulled me out of many a dark place. Even to this day I never know when I'll wake up and find myself drowning in my own self-loathing, but being around people who show me love and support has always brought me back. Unfortunately though not everyone has the same privilege as me, or is able to come around as easily. I've seen so many others going through similar struggles, wishing everything around them coudl cease if just for a moment.

    For this reason I'm so happy to be able to support an organization that helps people in those difficult moments and give them hope to continue another day. If by shaving my head I can help someone find their own light, I'd happily stay bald

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  • Kat's Story

      25 March 2022

    I'm 22 and was raised on a farm in Central Otago, I am currently doing my PhD in Neuroscience.

    Up until I was 19 my hair was so long and thick that I would get strangers commenting on it in the street. It felt like the most central part of my identity. I've since cut my hair, but it will be a big step to shave it off completely. I have had personal struggles with mental health, the worst of which was my first year of university. I had put so much pressure on myself to excel it was crushing me. I became really isolated and felt hopeless. I didn't see the point in carrying on. I've worked really hard on myself and gotten better, and I am so grateful to be where I am today. But I've also seen my family suffer, my friends suffer, and I want to do something to help people who are in that situation and feeling hopeless. That's why I'm shaving my head for life matters, to give others that support.

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  • Shamilka's Story

      25 March 2022

    Shamilka Jayasuriya

    I am Shamilka Jayasuirya, surviving and exploring my 29th year of being a human being. I grew up in a rural Sri Lankan household with two loving parents. Being born to a Buddhist family I was taught to be compassionate and understand one's suffering. I have seen many of my friends grow through rough times, some of which I am unable to comprehend. I have always been very private about my mental stressors, but after moving to New Zealand far away from my family, I experienced many unfortunate incidents. Which led me develop suicidal ideations and this was eating away my peace of mind. This led me to look for help and realize how important it is to share my experiences with friends and share support among each other. The hair that I have right now symbolizes the weight I have been carrying for the past few months and I wanted to participate in the event to show that we can let go of our past in a good way, hoping for better new growth.

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