Houston-based blogger, Mallory ‘iammallory’ Henderson has announced her third annual charity birthday party, The Premier Benefit & Birthday Bash. The Premier, to be held 6-10pm, Sunday, January 7, 2018, is Henderson’s way of making her special day about more than herself. The 2018 event will celebrate Henderson’s twenty-fifth birthday and, instead of planning how she would make the milestone more enjoyable for herself, she hit the ground running just weeks after the 2017 event, exhausting every resource to make sure she would leave an even larger impression in her community.

After her freshman year in college, Henderson was diagnosed with moderate-severe Depression Disorder. She was temporarily medicated and began learning how to better care for herself emotionally and mentally.

“I was 18/19 years old, in a new environment, hurt over severed relationships, unable to help negative situations back home, and, because I had always ignored my situations and listened to others’, I felt like no one was there for me through all this. I felt like my world was crumbling.”

As she become more self-aware, Henderson realized that there are thousand of people who experience varying levels of depression, anxiety, and more. She discovered a calling to help others love themselves unconditionally and realize that self-care is essential to overall health.

“A lot of people think focusing on your mental health means that you’ve been diagnosed with a psychological disorder and need to be committed. But, mental health encompasses all levels. It can be as simple as not being able to handle the stress of life at the moment and going to therapy to talk it out. I need people to understand how big of a difference this can make.”

Henderson says she always wanted to throw a charity birthday party. Having known young people who took their lives due to depression, she finds it important to reach out to her fellow young adults. When she got the opportunity to throw the inaugural party, she saw it as an ideal way to meet young adults where they are and start the important conversation about mental health.

For 2018, she has drawn social influencers like DJ Young Streetz and Lyd Rock of Nova to participate in her party with a purpose. On Sunday, January 7, 2018 they will come together for a night for celebration and fundraising. She’s partnered with Houston Association of Black Psychologists and her goal is to raise a minimum of $1,000 to sponsor new therapy patients. For tickets, donations, and more information, visit iammallory.com/the-premier.