Serena Williams lends support to Black Dog Institute

Tennis star Serena Williams has backed an Australian mental health charity, days after applauding her friend Meghan Markle’s “brave” suicide revelation.

Australian mental health charity the Black Dog Institute has received some surprise support from global tennis star Serena Williams.

Williams launched a campaign with US online marketplace Poshmark on Wednesday and vowed to donate the proceeds to the Black Dog 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.

“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.”

The Black Dog Institute, which was founded in 2002, began expanding its support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities two years ago.

“The experience of mental ill health and suicide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is fundamentally different to mainstream definitions of mental ill health and suicide and we have to offer support that is culturally appropriate and considers holistic social and emotional wellbeing as defined by them,” The institute’s Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy Leilani Darwin told Confidential.

Serena Williams in Melbourne for the Australian Open. Picture: AFP

“Having people like Serena Williams recognise what we are doing and offering to give support to us, means everything to us. As a strong, powerful, well recognised black woman, Serena has chosen to advocate for the Black Dog Institute and for Indigenous people. It is incredibly needed and valued.”

The Black Dog Institute is a research led organisation committed to the understanding, prevention and treatment of mental illness and the reduction of suicide rates.

One area of focus for the Black Dog Institute is the care and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as the first nations people of Australia and the money that Williams donates will go to a number of research avenues and services on offer.

“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.

“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.”

Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian at the royal weeding. Picture: Getty

Serena Williams with Meghan Markle

Poshmark, which counts Williams on its board of directors, launched in Australia last month.

Pieces from Williams’ closet range from $15 baby clothes to $1000 sneakers.

It comes days after Williams publicly supported her friend and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle’s “brave” revelation that she struggled with her mental health during her time as a royal.

Markle told media mogul Oprah Winfrey that she had suicidal thoughts at her lowest point after allegedly being subjected to racism and bullying.

“Meghan Markle, my selfless friend, lives her life — and leads by example — with empathy and compassion. She teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble. Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she’s experienced,” Williams wrote on social media.

“I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of colour to minimise us, to break us down and demonise us. We must recognise our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism. The mental health consequences of systemic oppression and victimisation are devastating, isolating and all too often lethal.”

The campaign from Serena Williams.

Black Dog Institute states that suicide is currently “the second highest form of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait males and the fifth cause of death for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders”, according to the ABS Causes of Deaths figures for 2019.

With funding from the Department of Health, the institute launched the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre in 2019.

The centre aims to research, define and better understand the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It aims to elevate their voices and include culturally led, safe and inclusive support for these communities.