October 2026 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.
2,061,432km
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 2026
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
diamond
Debbie
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
David
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Wendy Murray
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Cheryl
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. Having been touched by the effects of poor mental health in those that I care for, I know that know one is alone in this no matter how much you feel that you are. Please reach out no matter how hard it may feel. And to those of us feeling secure, please be kind.
Gertrude Davis
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. From a personal level, suicide has been the answer to family members through the years. In very recent times within the wider communities of Indigenous peoples, there has been an increase of mental health issues which unfortunately has led to an increase in suicide, particularly among the younger generation.
Jason power
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Blake
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Sarah A tribute for Myself
💚 Walk for Mental Health – My Story 💚 My journey with mental health began when I was a young girl, shaped by significant trauma that affected every part of my life. Through the years, I’ve struggled with school, work, relationships, and even parenting. As a teenager, I was hospitalised multiple times, and at 15 I survived a suicide attempt. Those were some of the hardest years of my life — ones I truly didn’t think I’d make it through. But thanks to the amazing support I’ve had along the way, and a lot of inner fight I didn’t know I had, I’ve come so much further than I ever imagined possible. I’m not “cured” — healing is an ongoing journey — but I am in a place today that I once thought was impossible. That’s why I now stand as a strong advocate for mental health. 🌿 I founded Vesta as a way to reach out, help my community, break down stigma, and share my story in the hope it gives others strength. If you’re struggling right now, please know this: you are not alone, and even the darkest chapters don’t have to be the end of your story. 💚
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.