October is Mental Health Month
Join us to walk, run or roll in solidarity for the 1 in 5 Australians who experience a mental illness each year.
Together, we can show them they are not alone.
How It Works
2. Share
Share your page and raise funds to help Australians impacted by mental illness.
3. Walk
Walk, run or roll and log your kilometres throughout October for Mental Health Month.
2,059,009km
for mental health!
Mental Health stats in Australia
1 in 5
Australians experience a mental illness each year.
75%
of common mental health problems emerge before the age of 25.
50%
of people living with mental illness will not seek professional help.
Let's show people with mental illness that we're in this together.
Your support will help Black Dog Institute put ground-breaking new mental health treatment, education and digital services into the hands of the people who need them most, helping to create better mental health for all.
Sign up now for One Foot Forward 2025
Join our community to create better mental health for all Australians.
Paul Rudd takes part in One Foot Forward every year:
"I went through a bad patch with my mental health when I hurt my back and I needed a lot of time off to recover. I had limited mobility, so I started to lose contact with the outside world. Then I lost interest in doing anything at all. My mind just clouded all positive thoughts.
It took me two years to rebuild myself. So when I heard about One Foot Forward I decided to take part. I wanted to connect with other people who had been through something similar.
“The community is a big, supportive family.”
To anyone thinking about taking part in One Foot Forward, I say ‘Do it!’. You get to enjoy the fresh air and get your blood moving. It’s also a fun community thing. Above all, it helps raise funds and awareness that help is out there if you need support for your mental health.”
Register now and join Paul in One Foot Forward 2024.
Your Impact
Advocacy
Sharing world-leading research and real-world stories with policymakers to shape decisions that affect millions, and build a future where all Australians can access timely, affordable care.
Education & Services
Equip teachers with practical tools and professional support to provide safety and guidance to teenagers in the years when they are most vulnerable to forming mental health conditions.
Youth Mental Health
Teaching children with anxiety or depressive symptoms how to create healthier ways of thinking.
Suicide Prevention
Translate research into a digital program which can support people with suicidal thoughts to seek help when they need it most.
Solidarity Wall
Jenny Middleton
Melanie A tribute for Wiliam Hammond
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. We lost our William this month to mental health and want to create awareness . reach out when things get to heavy, or you feel surrounded darkness there are people that can help no matter how bleak remember that it ain't weak to speak. check on your friends and family no matter how well they look like they are travelling, be kind; you never know what's is going on for someone. William you will never forgotten, forever missed.
Abbey
I’m running in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide.
Jennifer Forlonge A tribute for All Veterans and First Responders
Post traumatic stress disorder also called: PTSD is a disorder characterised by failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Many Veterans and First Responders experience PTSD for months, years or life. It’s important that the wider community understands and acknowledges the trauma these important members of society experience and that governments give them the support they need and opportunity for essential recovery treatments ❤️🩹 Thank you Veterans and First Responders for your service.
Fiona
I’m running this month for anyone affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. There is help out there and you’re 100% worth it.
Jujuuu
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. I believe in you . Even though at the darkest or even sunniest of times you may believe your alone you never truly are. I care about you 🫶
Sophia A tribute for Daniel
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Sarah Aoun-Walker
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Olivia A tribute for Greg
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. We all have a role we can play in prevention & support for mental health. One ✌🏻Foot 🦶🏻Forward 🧡 Walking together. Standing together. Stronger together. Together we will walk in solidarity for the 1 in 5 Australians who experience symptoms of mental illness every year to show them they are not alone. Although we are walking from different corners of the country, we are united in our goal to support crucial mental health research and support services to help change lives.. This is our movement. Our mantra We will walk together in solidarity, a community who cares. We will stand together across this country, our stories we will share. We walk to remember those lives we've lost, and honour them each day. We walk for those people who need us now, to help them find a way. We walk for those we love in our lives, and those we've never known. We walk for Australians living with mental illness, to show them they are not alone. We walk to support research and help save lives, we cannot wait any longer. We're walking in One Foot Forward this October, Because together we are stronger. 💖✌🏻
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.