Rachel

One Foot Forward participant Rachel Lee fulfils many roles in her life- she's a single mother, an employee, a STEM PhD student, supports her mother and an is adoptive mother to many rescue animals. Like so many Australians, she juggles family, work, life and her own pursuit of passions.

Like too many Australians, she has lost a dear friend to suicide.

“Daniel was a good friend but was unwell and often not able to obtain the right support at times of crisis. His loss as a friend has left a big hole in the lives of many.

I had been good friends with Daniel for around 20 years when he lost his battle with his mental health. After I lost him, I found myself in that really awkward place where I didn't know what to do. I felt so lost, and also personally having a diagnosis of anxiety and depression, it was a really challenging time.”

Navigating this grief, Rachel sought a way to take action to help people like Daniel. In 2020, she joined One Foot Forward and found a place she could create a real impact on the lives of the 5 million Australians who experience a mental illness each year.

“When I found out about One Foot Forward, it gave me a way to keep honouring Daniel's life and also help other people who might be battling their own mental health issues. It gave me a way to focus all of that energy that I didn't know how to use, and it focused fit into something really positive and beautiful.

Through the Black Dog Institute and the One Foot Forward challenge, I learned to really value the large number of lives that we can impact fairly easily. With $1,000 we can impact 1,268 people, and that's phenomenal. That’s tangible and essential help for those people who really need it, and I feel that if we can help even one person, let alone 1,000 people, then we've succeeded."

Like Rachel, the community who participates in One Foot Forward is welcoming, passionate and united by solidarity. They’re committed to raising funds to show people experiencing mental illness that they’re not alone.

“One Foot Forward is so much about the strength of the community and feeling support from everyone who’s participating and the fundraising team.  I love just being a part of something that's really positive and feels like I am a part of making a change in the world.”

And Rachel is making a change in the world- she’s become instrumental in promoting crucial mental health research, education and services being put into the hands of people who need them most. For the last few years of One Foot Forward, Rachel has been proactive in rallying her local community representatives to support better mental health.

“Last year, in the One Foot Forward Facebook community group, someone suggested that they were going to try and contact some MPs to see if they would be keen to donate, and I hadn’t even thought about that.

I contacted a couple, and got a great response from two of my local MPs- one MP had a similar experience to mine. This year, I’ve contacted all of our state’s MPs, plus others, and it’s been a really interesting experience! I’ve had some support in the form of donations and some sharing about One Foot Forward and Black Dog Institute and wishing me well.”

As well as helping others, walking every day in October has become an incredible tool in her own journey of mental ill health.

“I also have experienced significant periods of mental ill health which shows as depression and anxiety. I was only diagnosed during severe postnatal issues where looking back, signs of my diagnosis were present from my childhood.

It's just about finding that community to support you and then asking for help and then sometimes having to do the hard thing of taking that first step and doing what you need to to help, I guess, look after yourself.

When I’m having my really dark days, I’ve just got to remember that I really need to focus on getting outside and going for a walk. Often, after I take those first steps, I tend to find myself feeling a bit more distracted from the mental chatter. I’ve gone out knowing, ‘I need the kilometers,’ because I’ve made that commitment... and once I’ve started, it’s actually made a difference for me.

It’s given me the greatest opportunity to be able to keep moving through my own experience.”

Though she has already made a significant impact on her community and the future outcomes of mental health in Australia, Rachel is ready for another year of One Foot Forward.

“In memory of the loss of Daniel, and to support people who are battling mental health concerns every day, I have committed to another year participating in the One Foot Forward challenge which is raising funds for the Black Dog Institute for mental health research and to prevent suicide. The Black Dog Institute are an amazing and proactive organisation, and I figure that even if the funds raised help one person, we have succeeded.”

Join Rachel by putting One Foot Forward this October and help create better mental health for all Australians.