Awareness?...

Everyday I am sure most of see some kind of ribbon or one of those silicone wristbands symbolizing a disease - pink for breast cancer is probably the most popular along with red for AIDS.  April was Parkinsons awareness month and so I found a blue wristband for my husband for his newly diagnosed disease.  I also found this great website called Bravelets.com which make leather and silver bracelets.  They have many causes on there including Parkinsons, several cancers and even one supporting our troops.  I was so impressed with the Bravelets, I ordered two for Parkinsons.  They came the other day and are wonderful.  This got me thinking, "Did they have one for depression?"  I went back to check. The answer is no.  I wasn't too disappointed but it got me thinking.  I did a search for depression awareness bracelets and boy, was THAT disappointing.  Depression awareness is symbolized by the color green.  Not sure why.  Green is a pretty color but when I think depression, I don't think green.  One of the first things that comes up is this "elegant" Swavorski green emerald- type bracelet.  Then there are some that are general-- hope faith, strength.  The search also provided some bi-polar bracelets and stop the stigma ones were included among them.  What really surprised me was a manic-depression wristband.  I didn't know what to think about this one.  Was it an ode to the Hendrix song or was it serious?  Manic depression is now called bipolarism and I think that is pretty much common knowledge among the mental health community and many of the informed public on these diseases.  Who knows?  I may write and ask Bravelets to included a mental health in their catalog.   Until they do, I will wear the one I have that represents Parkinsons.  The small inscription on the silver really says it all - "be brave".