Serena Williams throws her support behind an Aussie mental health company after calling her friend Meghan Markle ‘brave’ for speaking out about her suicidal thoughts
- Serena Williams has thrown her support behind the Black Dog Institute
- She will donate all proceeds of her campaign with Poshmark to the company
- Shoppers can purchase from Williams’ closet with prices starting at $15
- Williams, 39, spoke out in defence of her longtime friend Meghan Markle
- Meghan revealed she struggled with suicidal thoughts while a working royal
Serena Williams has thrown her support behind Australian mental health company Black Dog Institute after praising her friend Meghan Markle for speaking out about her own suicidal thoughts.
The tennis legend vowed to donate all proceeds of her pop-up campaign with US online marketplace Poshmark to the Aussie institute.
‘I’m incredibly proud to be able to give back to the Black Dog Institute and raise awareness for the work the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre is doing to define and better understand the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,’ Williams said in a statement.
Williams, who is on Poshmark’s board of directors, shared the campaign with her 12.9million Instagram followers on Wednesday.
‘Hi Poshmark Australia, Serena here. I am so excited to see Poshmark expand to Australia and build another amazing community, welcome everyone,’ Williams said on Instagram.
Williams spoke out in defence of her longtime friend after the Duchess of Sussex revealed that she struggled with her mental health
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have insisted their interview with Oprah Winfrey would be the ‘last word’ on them quitting as senior royals
The tennis legend vowed to donate all proceeds of her pop-up campaign with US online marketplace Poshmark to the Aussie institute
‘To kick things off, I’m launching a special pop-up and selling my own clothing. I will be donating proceeds from my closet to Black Dog so swipe up to donate for a great cause.’
‘It is so important to elevate the voices of Australia’s First Nations People and include culturally led, safe and inclusive support for these communities.’
Williams’ pop-up closet will include a collection of nearly 70 items from her and daughter Olympia’s personal wardrobes, including the Ralph Lauren Team USA Official Olympic Scarf she wore at the 2018 U.S. Open.
The Black Dog Institute, which was founded in 2002, focuses on suicide prevention research, and youth and workplace mental health.
The 39-year-old spoke out in defence of her longtime friend after the Duchess of Sussex told Oprah Winfrey in a bombshell interview that she struggled with her mental health while a working royal.
Meghan said the stress of her role became so bad that she felt suicidal as a result of the pressure she was under.
The Black Dog Institute, which was founded in 2002, focuses on suicide prevention research, and youth and workplace mental health
‘I didn’t want to be alive anymore. This was a very real and frightening constant thought,’ she said.
Meghan revealed she begged a senior member of the royal to assist her get help for mental health issue but she was left to suffer alone.
‘I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. I said that I’ve never felt this way before and I need to go somewhere. And I was told that I couldn’t, that it wouldn’t be good for the institution,’ she told Winfrey.
In a statement on Twitter after the interview aired, Williams – who was among those to attend Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry – described her as a ‘selfless friend’ who ‘teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble’.
In a statement on Twitter after the interview aired, Williams described her as a ‘selfless friend’ who ‘teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble’
Shoppers can purchase from Williams’ closet with prices ranging from $15 baby clothes to $1000 shoes
‘Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she’s experienced,’ Williams wrote.
‘I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us, to break us down and demonize us. We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism.
‘The mental health consequences of systemic oppression and victimization are devastating, isolating and all too often lethal.
‘I want Meghan’s daughter, my daughter and your daughter to live in a society that is driven by respect.
‘Keep in your memory the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.’
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