October 11, 2013
The South Burnett’s first Depressed Cake Shop may have had some ‘sad” bikkies, cake that was feeling “blue” and quite a few “black dog” lollies, but it has had a happy ending … it was so successful there’s a good chance there’ll be more popping up next year.
“Depressed Cakes” have become a worldwide phenomenon. Despite looking black, grey and gloomy, they’re actually delicious and they’re for a good cause, providing an opportunity for workers to have that all-important discussion about mental health.
The idea began in the United Kingdom as a PR stunt for raising mental health awareness. “Pop up” shops soon started appearing around Europe and the United States.
When Kingaroy cake maker extraordinaire Kathy Copy, from Cake and Whimsy, heard about the idea, she took it to the local South Burnett Suicide Prevention group who endorsed it as a Mental Health Week initiative.
The cakes were baked and decorated by volunteers at Centacare South Burnett while Kathy made all the biscuits.
The shop “popped up” at Gloria Jean’s Coffees in Kingaroy Shoppingworld on Thursday morning after owner Jason Frecklington volunteered to help with the project.
As well as free cakes and biscuits, there were brochures on various mental health topics available as well as information about where to go to get help.
Louise Judge, from Centacare South Burnett, said more than 250 people had stopped for a chat.
“It was such a success that you can expect something like this to pop up again next year, maybe even in your town,” she said.
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