Wearing a simple message can save lives

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This article was published 11/12/2017 (3050 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Garden City Collegiate alumnus has found a way people can carry a special message everywhere they go.

Taylor Demetrioff, who graduated from GCC in 2009, is the founder of Sending You Strength Apparel Company, a company that partners with local artists and non-profit organizations to make people aware of resources available to treat mental illnesses.

When he graduated high school, Demetrioff was diagnosed with several mental illnesses. The 26-year-old battled hard to feel better, but a year and a half ago was shocked by the tragic suicide of the brother of a friend, who kept his pain secret.

It was then when he felt he needed to do something so that people would start talking about mental health more openly and that stereotypes and stigmas would be broken.

His clothing line sends a message of resilience, hope and recovery. He wants to encourage people to seek help no matter what they are going through.

“It’s like building a community around it and having a simple message on their shirt that says you can take care of each other. And also that it’s not weird or bad, to say ‘Are you OK?’ and if you’re not OK, that’s also OK, you don’t have to be perfect all the time,” he said.

When Demetrioff was in high school, no one spoke about mental health. He said talking about it sometimes feels like a sign of weakness to some. In his opinion, everyone should be open to talking about their struggles, and people should be able to ask each other if they are having a good day and can cheer each other up.

Following his friend’s brother’s suicide, he learned the role the community plays is helping those struggling with mental illness.

“Community is what makes you stronger, so letting people in and doing stuff together, that’s how you get better, being around people. Being with someone can be helpful too,” he continued.

Inspired by one of his friends who wore his grandfather’s plaid shirt to send him strength while he was battling cancer, Demetrioff created the line at the beginning of 2017.

“You can wear a shirt and send someone strength no matter where you are,” Demetrioff added.

Demetrioff is a musician, and teams up with graphic designers to put his ideas and messages on the shirts, which he sells at local concerts while promoting resources available in the city. 

“We do a lot in the mental health world, but if there’s something always available then maybe someone might just see it and want to get some help,” he explained.

“If someone has the message on their shirt, or hat, or something that they wear, they will always take that message with them. It’s very visible.”

In addition to Sending you Strength, Demetrioff also took over the Stay Alive Clothing, a company created in 2013 with the same purpose of sending positive messages toward mental health.

Demetrioff is also providing resource cards to those in need as part of his project. The resource card fits in a wallet and provide multiple crisis lines or mental health apps for when people are having a hard time. 

Sending you Strength and Stay Alive Clothing apparel cost from $24 to $40 and are available for purchase at wearhope.ca

Ten per cent of the proceeds go to youth mental health initiatives and Demetrioff is looking for organizations that would like to partner on some initiatives. For more information contact Demetrioff at 204-229-3179 or email at info@wearhope.ca