Local Tom Pattison has answered the call from the Black Dog Institute to walk, run or roll a chosen distance this October to help the one in five Australians who experience a mental illness each year.
“I’m walking to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute, so that they can put ground-breaking new mental health treatment, education, and digital services into the hands of the people who need them most.”
The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit globally renowned mental health research institute.
“We are the only medical research institute in Australia that investigates mental health across the lifespan – from childhood to adulthood,” states its website.
“We believe in creating hope for those experiencing mental illness by improving mental health outcomes for all Australians.”
The institute gets its name from the term ‘black dog’, which readers would know is often used to describe experiences with depression or sadness. With the image of a large, intrusive black dog considered a clearer and more relatable way to for some to identify the often hidden or difficult-to-see aspects of depression.
Sir Winston Churchill is just one well-known figure who referred to his own struggles with depression as a ‘black dog’ that followed him throughout his life.
The powerful metaphor has resonated with many others, symbolising the persistent and often unseen nature of mental health struggles.
“My walk is a part of One Foot Forward, an initiative by the Black Dog Institute held every year,” explained Tom.
“I’ve set my goal to 200 kilometres across October (Mental Health Month), with roughly 140km completed so far.
“Next week, in the last week of the fundraiser, I’ll be doing the 40km trek from Wee Waa to Narrabri, hopefully joined by a mate, otherwise my company will be good music, water and plenty of sunscreen – or I’ll leave the levee a man and get to Narrabri a lobster.”
Sunburn jokes aside, Tom is serious about improving health and wellbeing outcomes, especially when it comes to those living in the bush.
“With reduced access to mental health services in rural Australia and with still a large stigma around talking about mental health and seeking help, initiatives like ‘One Foot Forward’ are extremely important,” he said.
“One in five of us will suffer from mental illness, while nine Aussies take their lives every day. I walk for them.
“I hope in the very near future we see those statistics drop and the stigma gone.”
Sharing part of his personal experience, Tom stressed he wasn’t looking for sympathy but rather he hopes to rally support and raise awareness by taking part in the fundraising campaign.
“Mental Health is particularly important to me. Losing family members in my early teens and then my grandfather and father in my formative, maturing years with my Mum dealing with a terminal illness – I’ve had my own run-ins with ‘the black dog’,” he said.
“I have been doing the walk for three years now, I started doing it alongside my Mum who started doing it a couple of years before me.
“When she couldn’t last year, I upped my kilometres and donation goal and walked for the both of us – raising around $1700 in total from some amazing friends of mine and walking over 180km across October.”
“This year I’ve set my goal to 200km across October.”
It’s understood close to 30,000 people are taking part in the One Foot Forward initiative this year, every step Tom and other participants take will go towards breaking the stigma and creating a brighter future through research and education.
The initiative’s physical aspect will also have a positive impact along with the sense of connection created amongst participants and their supportive communities. Sparking important and much-needed conversations.
Tom thanked his community for their generosity and rallying ‘to create better mental health for all Australians’.
If you want to find our more or donate: https://www.onefootforward.org.au/fundraisers/TomPattison103836/one-foot-forward
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or the Suicide Call-back service on 1300 659 467. Or you can talk about support available with your doctor or local rural mental health coordinator www.ramhp.com.au
To order photos from this page click here
