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.
2,060,136km
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
Emma
Angie
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Petrina Wellington
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Brook Daniels A tribute for Peter Kyriazis
For you, I would walk the earth. This October, I walk in solidarity for my Peter, to honour his memory and raise awareness for mental health. Every step forward I take is for you.
Tara Middleton
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Fiona
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are never alone.
Miranda Walsh
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Aaliyah King
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. As someone greatly affected by mental health personally and people around me I want to support and stand with others like me with depression, anxiety and other issues to show them that they are not alone
Kaitley
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. This is for my cousin , Michelle x
I am walking during October for myself, loved ones and fellow Australians who have been affected by mental illness and suicide. My daily life is impacted by multiple mental health conditions including Bipolar 1, PTSD, Anxiety, AuDHD and more. I have also previously struggled with self-harm and passive suicidal thoughts. When I was younger, I thought about ending my life by the age of 19, if I had not achieved anything by that age. Now that I'm 30, I'm very grateful that I never set a date to end my life. I work as a Mental Health Support Worker and love my job so much. Getting to use my lived experience to support my clients to meet their recovery goals is really rewarding and gives me a huge sense of purpose. Unlike previous jobs, each day I wake up excited to go to work and make a difference in my clients lives. This time last year, I was 2 weeks away from having weight loss surgery. Since April 2024, I have lost 60kg and losing this weight has given me a new lease on life. I have set an ambitious kilometre goal, because I really want to challenge myself this year, now that I am much more physically active. I am looking forward to reaching my goal and maybe even surpassing it.