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.
2,061,382km
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
Oliver
Sophia
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. I’m walking in solidarity and in remembrance for anyone affected or suffering from their mental illness and loved ones suicide.
Olivia
I’m walking 100kms this October for mental health and suicide, as someone who has suffered most of my life with mental health I understand what people go through and we are not alone!
Dylan A
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Rosie
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Tayla
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Beth
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.
Carolyne
I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. I have dealt with mental health for 20+ year. These last 6 months have been hard. I have been dealing with a bully at work and she has really pushed me to his rock bottom. This challenge couldn't of come at a better time. I have really needed this. Thanks to those who have stood by me and who have supported me through my worse days.
Chris M
In a display of solidarity, I will be participating in a walk this October to support Australians who are affected by mental illness and suicide. Together, we step forward united, reminding everyone that we are never alone in this struggle.
Heya friends and family, October is right around the corner which in Australia marks the start of Mental Health Awareness month. It comes as a suprise to many people that four years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression. Every day I was plagued with anxiety and crushing sadness. Every day became a challenge and moving forward seemed pointless. For years I felt trepidation at the thought of feeling this way forever. Through dark and lonely nights I felt myself slip further and further into darkness. Thanks to the love and support of my family, friends, doctors and psychologists I slowly began to crawl out of the pit of despair. In recent months my mental state has shifted and I've felt happier and healthier than ever before. I'm not the only person that has felt this way. Depression continues to run rampant in young demographics being the leading cause of death in individuals under the age of 49. So this month I'm putting One Foot Forward to raise awareness for mental health in the community. I'll be running in October and raising funds for the Black Dog Institute. This year I am running for those individuals who don't feel heard or understood in the community. I'm running for family members and friends who haven't been so lucky as I have by way of mental health care. So please share this post and get people talking. This year I am running for those who can't and I am hoping you can all help me with this. Thanks team. Much love and many thanks. Ollie.