Step for smiles

Every year approximately 500 people in New Zealand take their own lives, with many more attempting suicide or experiencing levels of distress that places them at high risk of suicide. 1 in 5 people in New Zealand suffer from mental illness. My goal and vision is to give those Mothers in need to get the help they need and deserve when bringing a baby into this world. Living through postnatal depression can be one of the most overwhelming, frightening and debilitating experiences a woman can have. She may feel her world has fallen apart, that everything is black or that nothing makes sense. For some, it can even start during pregnancy, and if left untreated can get worse after the baby is born.

In 2014 I completed 63,000 steps for raise money for youth line. I have decided to run step for smiles for a second time to help raises awareness of post natal depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, I have been involved and suffered with mental health for as long as I can remember both personally and throughout my family.

Being diagnosed with severe post natal depression and anxiety after my daughter was born, was something I did not expect.

Before falling pregnant mental health was something that was rarely spoken about.

There would be days where I could barely get out of bed, I wouldn't have motivation to have a shower, have breakfast all I would do is cry myself to sleep for days at a time. Still to this day I suffer with depression and anxiety, some days can be harder than others. I found it very hard to talk to those around me, including my friends and family, this lead me to bottle up my emotions and feelings up inside which resulted in several mental breakdowns and becoming suicidal and feeling so alone. I was lucky enough to go on to get the help I needed to get me through, but I know it’s not always that easy to ask for help. It takes a lot of courage.

As mental health has been a great part of my life and family life for as long as I can remember, I believe that talking to somebody can save a life, help one’s life make a step in the right decision. On Saturday the 19th of September I will be stepping for smiles. Every $100.00 that I raise before the date towards The Mums clique will step up the Hakarimara summit in Ngaruawahia once; which is 1349 steps and the summit tower is 374 metres above sea level in a 24 hour period.

It can be hard to know what to say or do when someone is going through a tough time; but it's really important to check in. Knowing someone cares might be just what that person needs. That's when The mum clique is there, they are here help mums in need.

Your donation, no matter how small, helps the mums clique to support mothers who need it the most. As a mum it's not easy to navigate safely into parenthood.

Support me to support others with steps for smiles.

The Mums Clique strives to be The Ultimate Mothers Community in New Zealand. A registered Not-For-Profit Charity (Registration #CC56784) on a mission to “Support New Zealand Women through Motherhood”. The Mums Clique is run by Mums, for Mums.

They go the extra mile, providing support to our mothers who need it the most.