Have you put on the bright lippie for Liptember? There’s still time to raise awareness and funds for the important issue of women’s mental health. We talk to Liptember Founder, Luke Morris, about how going bright-lipped for September will help kiss away the blues for thousands of women.
What is Liptember all about?
Liptember is a campaign dedicated to raising funds and awareness for women’s mental health. Liptember sell official lipsticks and encourage women to register online and seek sponsorship from family, friends and co-workers for committing to wear the Liptember Lipstick throughout the month of September. Funds raised during the month of September are donated to the Centre for Women’s Mental Health and Lifeline.
When did Liptember start?
Liptember started in 2010 with its first ever campaign, which raised $55,000.
Why did you pick lipstick as the theme (not that we don’t love any excuse to add some lippie!)?
We chose lipstick as its very visual. When women put on colours such as blue, green or even black, it’s a great conversation starter and helps raise awareness around women’s mental health and the campaign itself.
Can you tell us about the W7 Liptember Lipsticks?
W7 are Liptember’s official lipstick for the campaign and are sold in all Chemist Warehouse stores nationwide for $4.99 with proceeds from the sale donated to Liptember. The range includes very daring colours such as blue, green, purple, orange and black.
What do we need to do to raise awareness (and money!) during September?
The best way to raise funds is to purchase a Liptember lippy. Once you have your lippy you jump online at Liptember.com.au and register as a fundraiser and seek sponsorship for wearing the lippy throughout the month from family, friends and coworkers.
Proceeds go to the Centre for Women’s Mental Health and Lifeline. What do these centres offer women?
The Centre for Women’s Mental Health was established to provide expert clinical and therapeutic services for women, undertake research and provide education and training. The Centre aims to improve mental health as well as reduce the prevalence and burden of mental health problems and mental illness.
What will the money raised go towards?
Over the past three years Liptember has funded some significant services and programs in the women’s mental health space, including NBO Australia (Newborn Behavioural Observation System), a national postnatal depression prevention program. Liptember launched this program and train over 300 health professionals to run the system in any hospital across the country. Safe Mothers, Safe Babies; another national program that helps support pregnant women at risk of domestic violence. Providing pathways and strategies to maintain their personal safety and well-being. And Lifeline’s Online Crisis Support Chat where Liptember has doubled the hours of operation for Lifeline’s online crisis support chat, ultimately answering an additional 30,000 crisis chats. With the funds raised in 2016, Liptember aims to continue its roll-out of Safe Mothers, Safe Babies and potentially fund the ground breaking crisis text chat in partnership with Lifeline.
Do you have a goal that you want to raise this year?
Last year Liptember raised just over $900,000 so naturally this year we’re aiming for the magic million dollar mark, which will allow us to reach even more women across the country and continue funding such vital outcomes for women’s mental health.
What better excuse to wear lippie! Get to it people…