Inspired by her daughter, a former North Battleford resident is turning previous helplessness into creativity.
Amanda Sanderson, who grew up on Saulteaux First Nation and lived in North Battleford for a year and a half, is the founder of SHB Apparel, a clothing company that raises awareness for mental health. Sanderson now lives in Saskatoon.
The clothes feature quotes and other messages that helped people who were close to Sanderson cope with difficult times. The clothes includes messages such as “Be strong, brave, fearless;” “Live your life fearlessly;” “Strength, honour, bravery;” and “Warrior.”
SHB Apparel recently had its first photo shoot and Sanderson worked with youth “who had their own powerful stories.”
“It was a wonderful experience to watch them,” Sanderson said. “Some of them have never modeled before. It was just amazing to watch them at the beginning of the photo shoot when they were super shy and the end of the photo shoot where there was laughter.”
The reactions of the models and the encouraging phone calls from parents afterwards, Sanderson said, made her realize “this is why I have my business.”
“Sometimes that person just needs that one person to listen to them, and not judge them, and just to be there for them because sometimes that’s what the problem is, they don’t have that support.”
The inspiration for the project, Sanderson said, was her now 18-year-old daughter Caitlyn, who struggled with and overcame feeling suicidal.
Sanderson said she learned a lot from the experience.
“To me all my kids, it doesn’t matter what age they are, are my babies,” Sanderson said.
“So as a mother watching one of your babies having to go through what she went through, it hurt, like a hole in your heart.”
Caitlyn spent time at the Dubé Centre for Mental Health in Saskatoon and is now doing better.
Sanderson hopes to raise money to start up the business, and 10 per cent of profits will go to the healing retreat Living Proof Empowerment.
Sanderson has also organized and participated in rallies to raise awareness for mental health, recently at Saulteaux First Nation and upcoming, on May 27, in Saskatoon.
SHB Apparel has a page on the website indiegogo.com: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/we-are-stronger-together-shb-apparel-love-family#/
