Megan Jackson launched EmsCharityKiss late last May to tell Robert Pattinson just that.

Wait, let’s back up for a minute.

Who’s Megan Jackson? What’s she doing for mental health awareness? And how does kissing Robert Pattinson play into any of it?

Simply put, Megan Jackson is one of the most courageous young women I’ve met in a long time. You see, after dealing with depression for the past ten years and, by her own admission, spending a lot of time trying to avoid attention, the lovely Australian not only had what she calls “one crazy idea,” but she’s also thrown caution to the wind and taken action to make her idea a reality.

The idea?

To start EmsCharityKiss, a campaign geared toward increasing mental health awareness and raising money for research.

The “crazy” part?

She hopes the campaign will not only draw attention to mental health advocacy and help raise money for research, but also that it will catch the attention of the heart stopping (and in more ways than one, depending on whether he’s in Cullen mode) Robert Pattinson who will then, if all goes according to plan, give Megan her first kiss.

Megan’s “crazy idea” isn’t all that “crazy” when you think about all the celebrities who’ve helped bring attention to certain causes; however, when you factor in the courage she’s mustered to face full on both her struggles with depression and the attention she’s receiving, you have to admit the girl’s got guts.

I was fortunate enough to get an interview with Megan this weekend, and I hope you’ll take some time to check out what she has to say about creating EmsCharityKiss, the reactions she’s received (both the good and the bad), and why she’d love for Robert Pattinson to at least know about her campaign by August!

Alicia Sparks: During your first YouTube video, you admit that you’ve spent much of your life trying to avoid attention. Taking on mental health advocacy – and encouraging Robert Pattinson to give you your first kiss – kind of blows that out of the water, doesn’t it? What brought on this seemingly 180-degree turn in your attitude?

Megan Jackson: I wish someone could tell me! I guess a lot of it had to do with being frustrated about my situation. I’m turning 28 soon, and because of different circumstances, including my depression and low self esteem, I haven’t really moved ‘ahead’ in life.

I guess though that there is no one specific path for everyone, but by how we measure society (family, career, independence etc) I haven’t moved as far as my friends.

Sparks: And on that note, Robert Pattinson – wow! You certainly aimed for a pretty big star with this. Is there any particular reason you choose Rob (aside from the obvious swooningly deliciousness)?

Jackson: I know, right? Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment! I picked Robert Pattinson because I really like him - there’s something kind of offbeat and mysterious about him. I know you can only go by the small window that celebrities offer the public, but he seems like a fascinating person to talk to. And I’ve said before that he sometimes seems as uncomfortable with his life as I am with mine. There’s a melancholy about him I like.

Sparks: Walk us through the process of getting EmsCharityKiss underway. What was your first step? What kinds of snags did you run into along the way? Who did you turn to for help?

Jackson: After I had the initial idea I freely admit I had no idea what to do next! Actually it’s all been very much by instinct from the start. I really didn’t want to make a video - talk about putting yourself out there - but I just sat down one afternoon and did it in one take without rehearsing or writing anything down. So it was very honest and raw, and probably doesn’t get the message across as clearly as it could lol!

My biggest snags? The negative reaction it’s been getting from some people, but more so my own fears and apprehensions. I find that my habit of negative thinking makes things horribly difficult - if someone calls what I’m doing ‘selfish’, I’ll go away and start thinking ‘They’re right, you are selfish. Everyone is going to think that. You might as well stop now.’ and it just snowballs from there.

I’m lucky that I have lots of very supportive friends who know how I work and how my brain works and they try to snap me out of it and reassure me. It’s hard though, I’m not going to lie. I’ve actually just had a bad couple of weeks with stuff at home and it affects how I’m able to deal with this.

Sparks: The world is robbed of many great ideas because people are too afraid of failure or negative reactions. Putting oneself out there is a scary prospect, and I imagine putting oneself out there and involving as popular a celebrity as Pattinson is right now makes it even scarier. As you were beginning EmsCharityKiss, did you ever fear there’d be backlash to deal with? And, if so, what has kept you moving forward with the idea rather than giving it up?

Jackson: Oh I definitely thought there would be some backlash. I guess the hardest part of dealing with it was the fact that I couldn’t explain or portray my intentions in a way to make everyone understand. I hated the thought that people were getting the wrong impression of me. Some people were calling what I was doing ‘exploitative’ - that idea was abhorrent to me. That was the first time I thought about not going ahead because the last thing I wanted was for people to believe I was taking advantage of my illness to satisfy some ‘fangirl whim’. I think there would be easier, less humiliating ways of doing that!

But the support from people at OneInFive, my friends and family and the response I’ve got from people in a similar situation dealing with mental illness balances that out and reassures me. I know in my heart what I’m doing and why I’m doing it, and as long as there are people that can see that it will help drive me forward.

Sparks: Speaking of reactions, what has been your experience thus far with the Twilight and Robert Pattinson fan communities?

Jackson: Mostly good! A few people are wary I think of getting involved in something they believe would draw a lot of attention to Robert Pattinson, because he’s so overwhelmed to begin with. But I’m going to always deal with him with the utmost respect and I think people can see that.

I’ve had some big sites agree to sponsor/support me, which has been really amazing.

Sparks: And from the mental health community?

Jackson: I haven’t really approached the wider mental health community yet, but OneInFive are very supportive and continue to check in with me to see how I’m progressing. And I’ve had some doctors who know me say they think it is a really positive thing for me to be doing. And I’ve had this interview with your blog

I guess, honestly, part of me is a little scared to reach out to the bigger mental health communities for fear that I really wouldn’t be able to cope with any criticism I was given. That’s me being very honest. I know that I should, and I will. It’s just intimidating.

Sparks: Tell us a bit about One In Five Australia, the nonprofit group you’re helping raise donations for through EmsCharityKiss and Everyday Hero. What made you choose that particular charity?

Jackson: OneInFive is a very small nonprofit group based here in Australia. It’s basically a group of friends and family who started the group after the loss of a loved one to suicide in 2001. As they say on their website, this young man was “son, brother, mate, fiancé, cousin, colleague, and is missed by all that knew him.” That really touched me and it illustrated how far reaching the impact of the disease can be.

The name of the group comes from the frightening statistic that now one in five Australians suffer some form of mental illness. Their vision is for Australia to become ‘None In Five’, and they seek to raise greater awareness of the issues of mental health, as well as raising funds for research into the prevention and treatment of the disease.

I picked them because they were so small - just a small band of friends and family who came together after a tragedy to change the mindset of the society he found it so hard to live in.

Sparks: If you could change one thing about the mental health community in Australia, what would you change?

Jackson: I think the mental health support community is constantly growing here in Australia, but I think there is still a stigma attached to mental illness. I’ve had people comment on my video that there is more or less ‘no such thing’ as depression and that people need to just ‘get happy’. That’s a very outdated way of thinking, but sadly it is still out there.

Depression is one of those things that you can’t really explain unless you are affected by it, whether it is yourself or someone you care about it.

More support groups via social networking sites would be a good idea. Lots of the comments I’ve received start out ‘I feel the same but have no one to talk to about it’ - so there needs to be more avenues for people to open up and share what they’re going through.

Sparks: If you could ensure that EmsCharityKiss accomplishes just one thing, what would it be?

Jackson: That is does raise awareness for the cause, and that it helps OneInFive. It’s helping me everyday already, in different ways.

Sparks: Your birthday is coming up in August. How fantastic would it be if Robert Pattinson granted your wish and delivered your first kiss on your birthday?

Jackson: It would be amazing but I don’t know how likely it would be! I’d be happy if he’s at least heard of it by then!

Sparks: You are an amazing woman, Megan Jackson. Not only have you taken on a worthy cause, but, in doing so, you’ve also been refreshingly straightforward and honest about your own experiences with depression. As much as it pains me to encourage Robert Pattinson to kiss another woman, I sincerely hope you get your wish – I can’t think of a more worthy individual.

Jackson: Thank you so much Alicia, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain more about EmsCharityKiss on your wonderful blog!

Learn more when you visit EmsCharityKiss online, as well as Megan’s YouTube channel and her Everyday Hero account. To date, she’s raised $625 AU!

Share: Facebook | del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | StumbleUpon |

Related Posts

• Update: EmsCharityKiss Raises Nearly $1,000
• What Brings You To Celebrity Psychings?
• So…How DO You Deal With Celebrity Stalkers?
• Robert Pattinson Is NOT Laughing
• Michael Bay to Megan Fox: “Please Consult Your Doctor”

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.