Community blog gives hope and support
We all know that more and more people are turning online for emotional and mental health help and support. Blogs, forums and sites like ours have sprung up offering just the kind of support, information and community that can be so valuable at times of need.
It can, however be a minefield, there is so much advice, so many sites with conflicting information, where do you go to find just what you are looking for? Well, along with Mental Healthy of course! I wanted to raise awareness of a fabulous blogging site called 'Band Back Together'.
Band Back Together is the brainchild of Becky Sherrick Harks (fondly known as Aunt Becky) from www.mommywantsvodka.com. When Becky delivered her third child, Amelia, born with a previously undiagnosed neural tube defect called an encephalocele, she realized that there was a tremendous need in the blog world for a place where we could all come to put our stories down.
A place we could put our stories and experiences together and find comfort and solace in knowing that we were not alone. We are none of us alone. A group blog that we could share our struggles and our triumphs. A place that we could Band Back Together.
Jana Herbert Anthoine from Janasthinkingplace.com, is the second in command and an instrumental part of the day-to-day operations on the site. After losing Charlie, her son, in 2003 from Late Onset Group B Strep, Jana had been looking for a space on the internet to offer comfort and support for those dealing with heartache and loss, and she found just that on Band Back Together, quickly becoming the Tennille to Aunt Becky's Captain.
The Band was launched mid-September 2010 to much fanfare and acclaim - no small feat in the blog world - receiving thousands of stories and registered users.
The beautiful part of the stories submitted to the site is that they cross so many lines: a post about loss can also mention depression, addiction and abuse. A post about love may mention heartache and divorce.
These are real lives, real stories and real comfort from coming together and sharing.
Band Back Together welcomes everyone. Their statement 'Band Back Together is a group weblog that provides educational resources as well as a safe, moderated, supportive environment to share stories of survival. Through the power of real stories written by real people, we can work together to destigmatize mental illness, abuse, rape, baby loss and other traumas so that we may learn, grow, and heal. All are welcome.'
Please do check out this fantastic site and see for yourself that a problem shared really is better than a problem suffered in silence.
Twitter: @bandback2gether
Tumblr: bandbacktogether.tumblr.com
Pinterest: pinterest.com/bandback2gether
