Don Eriq

Help me create a mentally healthier world

I'm standing up to join Team Black Dog to turn ground breaking research into life saving action.

Mental illness affects 1 in 5 Australians every year, with the most common being depression and anxiety. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It affects people from all walks of life — individuals, families, workplaces and communities.

Please donate today!

My Updates

Wish you were here

Tuesday 28th Jul
My dear friend and brother. I wish you hadn't left. There are plenty of other adventures we were supposed to have, places we could have gone, things we could have seen and done. I hope we could've travelled together again and filled our diary posts with many more chapters. At the very least I'm glad that I got to show you my world and you showed me yours.
You never let the time and space between us affect our friendship, and neither will I. As heartbroken as I am to have lost one of the best people I've known, it won't stop me from carrying all our memories in my heart.
I'll miss you always my friend. I'll love you always my brother.
Happy birthday and rest in peace.
.
.
Earlier this month I lost one of my best mates to suicide. He made a big impact in mine, my family and some of my friend's lives as soon as we met him.
I am still not able to completely wrap my mind around what happened. He was open to me about his mental health struggles as I was vice versa. He even donated to the campaign we are running to raise awareness for these issues.
I could let this deter me from making any more effort. But on the contrary, now more than ever I'm determined and vigilant to our cause. I won't ask again to support our campaign specifically, but there are other organisations you can donate to, support and learn from like Black Dog Institute, Beyond Blue, Headspace, R U OK?, and plenty of other ones overseas. If you aren't aware of any in your area - reach out and I'll help you research some.
More importantly, I urge you to reach out to your loved ones. Ask them the question "R U OK?" even if it's not the day dedicated to it. During these dark times, we are also faced with a pandemic of stress, panic, anxiety and thoughts of suicide.
If you are struggling with any of these, reach out to a professional and your loved ones. We need the light that only you can bring in this world.

Time of Need

Sunday 22nd Mar

So many people are feeling a state of anxiety, depression, insecurity or panic. This global viral outbreak of Coronavirus has everyone on edge.
The sad truth is that this is how most of us that struggle with mental health feel on a daily basis. Some days are better than others, of course! But you never lose the feeling of worry and overthink situations. Sometimes emotions can be so overwhelming, you don't know how to release it. And then some days you contemplate easy ways out, without even realising your mind has gone there. 
It can be easy to brush off these things now especially since we are all going through a crisis. But in fact this is the time we need to stand up for each other the most.

Today, I took a stand for awareness of mental health issues and help prevent suicide with Black Dog Institute . After three and a half years of growing my hair, I shaved it all off (with support from @allthetime.bs and Jicko Manaloto ) to raise funds and turn research into practical programs that can be accessed by anyone who needs it. I will keep the fundraising campaign open for a while until #WorldMentalHealthDay 

We're not done yet. Part of the last few years journey to get here, my friend Leiyah Marie has been helping me make changes to my hair - dyeing it bleach blonde, then ash grey, and white. We have been discussing this for a while and I cant wait to do phase 2 of this bigggest change yet with her. 
If you have any suggestions on what colour I should do my hair next, please suggest in the comments.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$52

Tessa Gaerlan

$150

Anonymous

$100

Resa's Succulents

$104

Rita Haddad

Good luck 🙌 sending support and positive vibes.

$20.80

Nitsaar Thoo

$104

Fabian Scholten

Keep it up Don!

$52

Hanna Oloffs

$52

Declan Stacey

Appreciate the work you're doing for a good cause in a tough time. Bless you mate. Love Steph and Dec

$20.80

Anonymous

Well done guys and good cause

$52

Anonymous

$20.80

John-mark Nallas

Such a great cause. Al the best Don! :)

$31.20

Jon

$52

Alison Mcdonald

Good on you! Can’t wait to see result!!

$20.80

Christina Naal

Such a worthy cause! I hope this helps.

$52

Tony Le Hony

Go Don! Let’s smash this goal for the greater good!!

$5.20

Anonymous

$20.80

Jasmene Comafay

🙌♥️

$20.80

Harrison Stacey

$52

Kim Nguyen

Great work my friend! 👍

$20.80

Maria Mac

Thank you for all that you’re doing to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. It’s a cause close to my heart.

$31.20

Anonymous

Bless your heart bro ❤️

$52

Yoana O'connell

$69

Nick Beltran

Best of luck don

$31.20

Alexandra Moses

Such a good cause! Good on you

$20.80

Julian

$52

Dorothy Tom

Bye bye hair!

$20.80

Juanita

Well done matey! Want to see before and after photos

$15

Ruby

You go Glenn coco

$31.20

Lucy C

Such a good cause darling, so proud of you! x

$52

Bryan

Cant wait to see u in short hair..

$20.80

Richard Napalan

Yeeeehhhhh bboooyyyyyyyyyy

$20.80

Catherine Fuertes

$31.20

Nick T

$20.80

Sophie & Adam

$52

Jasmine Coronado

Dear Don, thank you for bringing attention to such an important cause. We love you lots!

$10.40

Billie Mcneill

Nice knowing ya!🤚🏽 😂 joking! Good luck with this and we’ll catch up soon x

$31.20

Paula Dobson

Go Don 👍

$20

Jeremy Angeles

$20.80

Anonymous

$52

Anonymous

$104

Olivia Wade

$20

Luzel Dasig

Wishing you all the best Don!

$20.80

Levi Arapeta

$104

Anonymous

$52

Anonymous

$52

James Adamo

Good work Don. Happy to support a great cause.

$20.80

Lowe Napalan

Yee boi!

$52

Therese Wong