My Walk

My Progress

27km

My Target

9km

End the stigma about mental health

I'm on a journey to finding the path that leads back to me again, to find my spark. I want to raise awareness and end the stigma about mental health.

It still feels like taboo. If the word mental health is mentioned, there are still people who think that means you are ill to the extent you can't make logical coherent decisions, you are considered a risk to society.

Mental health is like a balance. Trying to maintain peace and harmony within yourself, whilst at the same time caring for your children, partner, family and friends; trying to function to the best of your ability daily. Its a constant pouring out of your own cup, at the same time trying to refill it so it isn't empty.

Sometimes that cup ends up completely dry and no one can see that you are struggling to refill it because we've been conditioned to beleive that admitting we need help would mean we're a failure. That would be considered... a sign of weakness.

Being raised to believe that our purpose is to serve others before ourselves, that we forget or are afraid to prioritise ourselves because we would be considered selfish and self centered.

I know what it feels like to be completely depleted; to be constantly pouring for everyone else, wanting to keep the peace, to keep everyone else happy but at the cost of abandoning myself. I kept ignoring my body's warning signals until eventually my body decided to make the decision of tapping out... against my will.

The feeling of being disregarded, discarded, isolated, and misunderstood. Loved ones telling me I should stop thinking about myself, and start thinking about other people. People begin to critise about how they think I'm not showing up for them, when in reality I'm battling my own storm right now.

If only they knew... but I've come to realise, some people just lack the self awareness and curiosity to truely understand with compassion and kindness. Not all people are emotionally safe people to confide in. In moments of despair, having services such as Lifeline is exactly that... A life line for people who find themselves alone, doubting their selfworth, without safe people to turn to; to give them just a glimmer of hope that it will get better soon.

I'm walking to remember those lost to suicide and help people in crisis

Tragically, every year over 65,000 Australians attempt to take their own life and over 3,000 Australians die by suicide.

Lifeline receives over 1 million contacts from people in crisis each year.

Suicide has devastating impact on friends and loved ones.

For World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept 10), I will be taking part in Out of the Shadows and walking for the 9 people lost to suicide every day.

I'm walking to raise funds for Lifeline to provide suicide prevention services and support for Australians in need.

Please support my walk and sponsor me to help those in crisis.

Together, we can ensure that no one has to face their darkest moments alone.

My impact so far

I've raised $300 so far to answer 7 calls for Lifeline's crisis support hotline to connect and bring hope to people in crisis.

With your support, we can ensure that no person has to face their darkest moments alone.