Cakes and cookies are for many seen as "comfort foods" when feeling upset or low, while for others the act of baking itself has been thought of as possibly therapeutic for those with depression. More recently however, there is an emerging trend of selling these beloved baked goods to raise money for mental health initiatives...
The Depressed Cake Shop, is one such movement, which was started by Emma Thomas, who wanted to help raise awareness of and raise funds for mental illness. The Depressed Cake Shop is unlike any typical bake sale however, as all the baked goods sold can only be found in a shade of grey, often with a hidden pop of colour to symbolize hope.
While the project started as a series of pop-up shops around the UK, the idea has now caught on around the world. To date, Depressed Cake Shop pop-ups have taken place in Australia, India, Malaysia, Scotland as well as in the United States, and both amateur home bakers and professionals alike have come together to help ignite a conversation around mental health as well as share their delicious treats. Recently, the organization started a "Legacy of Laughter" project where a number of their "sugar artists" dedicated their cakes to Robin Williams (you can see some of the "art" on their website - link below).
What also makes the Depressed Cake Shop special is that "Many of the cakes were designed and donated by bakers who had personal experience with depression, and they used their creations to express their struggles with and experiences of their illnesses. Others were compelled to join because they had seen friends and family members suffering and wanted to be part of a solution."
To learn more about this initiative or how to get involved, check out:
http://depressedcakeshop.org/
http://munchies.vice.com/articles/these-depressed-cupcakes-are-getting-people-to-talk-about-mental-health
The Depressed Cake Shop, is one such movement, which was started by Emma Thomas, who wanted to help raise awareness of and raise funds for mental illness. The Depressed Cake Shop is unlike any typical bake sale however, as all the baked goods sold can only be found in a shade of grey, often with a hidden pop of colour to symbolize hope.
While the project started as a series of pop-up shops around the UK, the idea has now caught on around the world. To date, Depressed Cake Shop pop-ups have taken place in Australia, India, Malaysia, Scotland as well as in the United States, and both amateur home bakers and professionals alike have come together to help ignite a conversation around mental health as well as share their delicious treats. Recently, the organization started a "Legacy of Laughter" project where a number of their "sugar artists" dedicated their cakes to Robin Williams (you can see some of the "art" on their website - link below).
What also makes the Depressed Cake Shop special is that "Many of the cakes were designed and donated by bakers who had personal experience with depression, and they used their creations to express their struggles with and experiences of their illnesses. Others were compelled to join because they had seen friends and family members suffering and wanted to be part of a solution."
To learn more about this initiative or how to get involved, check out:
http://depressedcakeshop.org/
http://munchies.vice.com/articles/these-depressed-cupcakes-are-getting-people-to-talk-about-mental-health
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