Friends embark on two-day walk to raise awareness about mental health and suicide

This Friday, Eliza Rae, Sarah Press, Emma Flinn, Troy Jones and Lottie Rae will begin their journey, hoping to start a conversation around the topic of mental health and suicide awareness, especially in rural and regional towns. 

Walker and wellbeing coordinator for girls at Trangie Central School, Sarah Press said Beat the Breakdown, which is being spearheaded in the shire by local man Billy Browning, who has personally experienced loss due to mental health, is their inspiration in promoting the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing. 

“He is proactive in encouraging the conversation about mental health and suicide to take place, and this all goes hand in hand with reducing the stigma associated with the topic and the need to be proactive in in how we deal with it,” Ms Press said.

“We need to start the conversation and keep it going because the statistics are scary.

“Did you know that every day, more than eight Australians take their life … this figure amounts to more than 3,000 suicides every year.

Ms Press said for every death by suicide, it is estimated that as many as 30 people attempt to end their lives.

“That means approximately 65,300 Aussies attempt to take their life each year. To put that in perspective, that is more than the population of Warren, Trangie, Narromine and Dubbo put together, which is a scary thought,” she said.  

Ms Press said so far the group have raised over $8000 for their walk, which will go towards implementing mental health programs within the shire for both men and women. 

“All money raised on this walk will stay here in the shire, and go towards further workshops and programs that support mental health and wellbeing,” she said.

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“We have been incredibly lucky to have individual sponsors on this walk, who have rallied behind us and this cause including Auscott Ltd., Delta Ag Trangie, Michell Machinery, Westpac and Ray White rural. 

“For a number of people it's probably a walk in the park, but for us it's definitely going to be a bit of a challenge.

The walk is coinciding with the Narromine Rugby club’s Glen Browning memorial Beat the Breakdown match, which has raised over $40,000 for mental health within the community.  

“A big thanks to everyone who has supported us through donations, likes and shares on Facebook and overall encouragement,” Ms Press said. 

They hope to knock out 50 kilometres on the first day of the walk, but Ms Press reassures the group will make it to Narromine before the Gorillas First grade kick off against the Parkes Boars on Saturday. 

To help the group raise money for Beat the Breakdown visit: https://au.gofundme.com/beat-the-breakdown-walk