THREE Border women are getting “lippy” this month to raise money and awareness for women’s mental health.
Year 5 teacher at Wodonga Primary School Allicia Munro did Liptember for the first time last year and has this year started team Libba’s Lippettes with her sister Kylie Dulhunty and friend Rhiannon Pitman.
The trio will don crazy coloured lipstick for the month of September and are aiming to raise $600 which will go directly towards the Centre for Women’s Mental Health and Lifeline.
Miss Munro said she was aiming to do it bigger and better this year.
“I wore the green one yesterday and the kids told me I looked like I’d kissed an ogre, they are always keen to find out what colour I’ll be wearing next,” she said.
“This year we have already raised $400 and we are only halfway through the month.
“If we can help the community understand the serious nature of not only women’s mental health conditions but all mental health illnesses, then we’ve achieved what we set out to do.”
The money raised in last year’s Liptember had an immediate impact on mental health services enabling Lifeline to double its hours.
Miss Munro was inspired to join the movement when her team-mate and sister Kylie was diagnosed with postnatal depression.
It is Mrs Dulhunty’s first time doing Liptember and she understands how much mental health can impact individuals and families.
“Women’s mental health is an issue very close to my heart,” Mrs Dulhunty said.
“I hope through raising awareness about the very real and very serious nature of mental illness we can reduce the stigma associated with such conditions.”
Postnatal depression affects 15 per cent of women within the first year after childbirth.
Miss Munro wants people to find out about the issue.
To support the cause go to liptember.com.au/teams/libbas-lipettes or buy a W7 Liptember lipstick for $5 from Chemist Warehouse.
