All it takes is a Sharpie to help raise awareness and make a difference. To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a movement that encourages people dealing with tough issues to fight through to the path of recovery. On their website, (www.TWLOHA.com), the mission statement says: "To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery."Freshman Shannon Rosedale is an avid supporter of the movement. "To Write Love on Her Arms is an organization that was started back in 2006 or so to help a young girl deal with her depression and her addiction to drugs and to self-mutilation. The organization was founded through a story written about the girl Renee who at age 19 needed help and couldn't find it at the rehab center she went to first because they could not support her fully. The people surrounding her took her in for a few days, becoming her rehab and support.To Write Love on Her Arms is still an organization that spreads the support for other people who are dealing with issues like Renee."
The website comes from the angle that they actual believe in the things they are saying. They explain that they strongly feel that everyone deserves to be loved and has a story to tell. "You need to know that your life matters," is a statement on the vision page. The website goes on to explain depth what their vision is, then they summarize it:
The vision is that community and hope and help would replace secrets and silence. The vision is people putting down guns and blades and bottles. The vision is that we can reduce the suicide rate in America and around the world. The vision is that we would learn what it means to love our friends, and that we would love ourselves enough to get the help we need. The vision is better endings. The vision is the restoration of broken families and broken relationships. The vision is people finding life, finding freedom, finding love. The vision is graduation, a Super Bowl, a wedding, a child, a sunrise. The vision is people becoming incredible parents, people breaking cycles, making change.
The organization does host concerts and sell merchandise for the cause, but one of the biggest demonstrations the organization does is a "To Write Love on Her Arms" day in which people literally write the word "love" on their arm or wrist. "Every year the organization has a day to "write love on your arm" and I participate in it annually. It's not something that is widely known but it's one of those things that you can hold on to personally and know that you are doing something to support others in this world," said Rosedale.
"At a time in my life I had someone who refused to go to a rehab program, but needed help more than anything in this world. By knowing a little bit more about how to deal with the cases like this and how important it is to never give up on them, I was able to support them through their tough time. I wouldn't have known what to do or have the help to get there without organizations that are accessible like To Write Love on Her Arm," added Rosedale.
The website included some basic facts that the collected from various sources.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that 18 million of the depression cases are occurring in the United States, In addition, depression often co-occurs with anxiety disorders and substance abuse, with 30 percent of teens with depression developing a substance abuse problem. Also, the NIMH states that untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide.
"It's important because so many people don't know that people really do care about them and that there are people out there that can help," explained sophomore supporter Caity Friend.
"I got involved because my friend had bought a shirt and inside the shirt it had the whole story of the movement and it got to me. So I bought a shirt (money for which went to the organization to help women who self-mutilate themselves) and I participate whenever a 'To Write Love on Her Arms' day comes around and write love on my arm," added Friend.
"Depression and addiction run in my family, my uncle actually committed suicide. It's important for people to understand that this is real; it's not always the case of it being a "phase" that teens go through. That's why I joined because if someone had reached out to my uncle maybe he would be here," said sophomore supporter Ashley Bowles.
See next week's issue for more information on depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide, and how to help someone who is dealing with one of those issues.