Editor’s letter
T
here are two wonderful women in this week’s magazine who have gone straight to the top of my “most inspirational” list. I’m in awe of them.
Jay-Jay Feeney and Parris Goebel are both fierce and fabulous women at the top of their game.
Vivacious Jay-Jay is wildly successful, skyrocketing to the top in her radio career with her ability to bring humour and heart into listeners’ days. She’s one of the best in the broadcasting business.
Fearless Parris’ life journey has been against all odds, a young Polynesian woman who dropped out of high school at 15, then went on to conquer the hip-hop world with her sensational dance and choreography skills.
But behind the startling success of both of these women is a common thread. Both have struggled with depression their whole lives.
Jay-Jay’s mental illness culminated in a breakdown on air in October 2016, the “Great Depression”, as she calls it, taking her off air for a month. Eventually, she was strong enough to visit her GP and a psychiatrist, and she slowly started to rebuild. Today, she’s in a fantastic head space, but she knows depression will be something she needs to manage for life.
To read that Parris has battled with depression since she was a child shocked me. As a teenager, she struggled with self-esteem, body issues and bullying – and thought about taking her own life. She describes depression as a “black hole” that can be hard to comprehend, but she wants people – especially younger generations – to know they are not alone and help is out there.
I am so grateful and proud these two amazing women have chosen to speak about depression in Woman’s Day. Just starting conversations about mental health can make all the difference. I have close family, friends and colleagues who live with different illnesses, and talking openly about mental health helps to remove the fear and stigma around it. If one person seeks help as a result of reading Parris and Jay-Jay’s stories, their courage in speaking out has been worthwhile.
Thank you, beautiful ladies!