Pink Bra ambassador uses her platform to raise awareness of mental health issues
Boitumelo Mancwe, recently appointed Pink Bra ambassador, aims to provide a safe space for people battling mental health by using her platform as a voice.
Boitumelo Mancwe, founder of Unsuicidalthoughts, uses her platform to raise funds for breast cancer drives and mental health campaigns.
She was recently appointed an ambassador for Pink Bra and is also a mental health activist who once suffered from depression. She shared the story of her friend who committed suicide and said that this inspired her to start this campaign.
The organisation exists ‘to be there, to listen and help,’ according to Boitumelo, who continued to say that society should show individuals the necessary care and assistance and that these individuals should know that ‘society is for them, and not against them’.
The platform, which has been in existence since 2017, aims to inspire and redefine society’s thoughts around mental health.
“With this campaign, we are trying to establish a safe platform where people will feel comfortable to express their feelings and not feel judged, but rather, understood. Sometimes a positive breakthrough can happen through talking and being listened to,” Boitumelo said.
She said that with this campaign, people need to know that they are the power and that they can change the negatives into positives, therefore changing their lives for the better.
“With this campaign, we aim to create a platform for individuals to speak out and to seek help, because of the way society has defined mental illness as being a weakness, hence people die in silence.”
Boitumelo teamed up with the founder of Pink Bra, Renee Singh – a breast cancer survivor, and Warrior With A Purpose. They are currently running a project in which they call on the help of the community to donate pink bras and beanies in support of breast cancer awareness and said that these items will be donated to Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.
“I am not a cancer survivor, but I have learnt that cancer does not just affect your body, it can also affect your mind and in most cases, people experience significant changes to their emotional health. Finding out you have cancer can have a big impact on a person and their loved ones; and feelings of depression, anxiety and fear are common,” Boitumelo added.
To get involved or for more information, contact 067 045 9336 or send an email to bmancwe@icloud.com.
