To Write Love on Her Arms Day

Not many people in New Zealand have heard of the TWLOHA movement. The Mission statement reads:

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.

In some ways it has similarities to the Kiwi Yellow Ribbon movement for prevention of youth suicide, and there is a youth emphasis, but the organisation does have a much wider scope.

It was begun by a group as a way to help a friend in Spring 2006. They wrote a story which represented "things of contrast – pain and hope, addiction and sobriety, regret and the possibility of freedom. The story’s title “To Write Love on Her Arms” was also a goal, believing that a better life was possible" You can read the story here.

Although the organisation is American based, depression and suicide are not. There are thousands of people in New Zealand who have been touched by the struggle with depression, addiction, self-injury (including substance abuse) or suicide, either personally or in their circle of family and friends. As regular readers of the blog may know, my personal message to sufferers and their families is - you are not alone. And this is the message behind TWLOHA Day which is today.

So write love on your arms to show your support.