You're Only Human After All.

This time last year on International Women’s Day I wrote about the amazing work of ‘Days for Girls’, the brilliant organization that works to bring feminine hygiene out of the bathroom and into everyday life. The recent discussions in the UK about the abolition of the so-called ‘Tampon Tax’ has also bought the subject of feminine hygiene to the headlines. Personally, I think it’s great that discussions about lady’s sanitary products are now openly discussed on TV in the news without taboo. Something that until relatively recently would be unheard of.  

This year I want to bring attention to something less physical and address mental health. The mental health of women especially is being rightfully discussed more and more. ‘To Write Love On Her Arms’ is a non-profit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. On a day like today, we talk a lot about driven successful women, but for those amazing women to achieve, there also needs to be good mental health support.

I recently listened to the brilliant Podcast with Mary Portas interviewing the equally fabulous Bryony Gordon who talks openly about her mental health issues. Bryony is an author and journalist who has championed mental health awareness in her books and newspaper columns for the Daily Telegraph. Her books include The Wrong Knickers (2014), Mad Girl (2016) which discuss her battles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia, and addiction. In her third book, Eat, Drink, Run, she talks about training for the London Marathon and setting up a mental health support group, Mental Health Mates. All fascinating reads. Learning about TWLOHA, listening to Bryony and writing this article led me to research which other women I admire who also have had their struggles. The list is fascinating and some of the most unlikely people you think wouldn't suffer from anything; Brooke Shields, Ruby Wax, JK Rowling even Princess Diana. Mental health is a great leveler. You think that if these successful ladies are suffering and can talk about it, so can I and that’s where TWLOHA comes in.

As with all non-profit organizations, To Write on her Arms With Love’ needed funding and looked to Google Ad Grants to help.

In 1 year, Google Ad Grants generated over $174,000 in online revenue for TWLOHA. They also have a revenue stream in the form of merchandising and in just 3 months, Google Ads drove 1,000 purchase transactions generating over $50,000 in e-commerce sales.

Also, during September which is Suicide Awareness Month, $10,500 was generated in online store purchases with approximately $1,000 in donations. The traffic to the website during this critical month strengthened brand awareness. It's fair to say that Google Ad Grants helped to not only raise substantial income for TWLOHA but also raised awareness for not only the organization but mental health in general too.

On this day of celebrating women being strong, empowered and successful I want to say, it’s also OK to not be ‘the iron lady’ all of the time. We all have our floors, our vulnerabilities and no matter who you are, it's important to remember you’re only human after all.

To find out more about how Google Grants can help your Not for Profit organization please take a look at this video or feel free to contact me at [email protected]