When Zachary Chapman made an attempt on his life a year ago, he felt his mental health was dismissed and overlooked by doctors. Login or signup to continue reading Now, he has embarked on a mammoth walk from Darwin to Perth to stop men's mental health being labelled as just "another bloke having a bad day". The Rutherford local has set out on the roughly 4000 kilometre journey to raise money for mental health not-for-profit, the Black Dog Institute.
"There is simply not enough support in our country for men that go through a hard time or a struggle," Mr Chapman said. He has raised more than $17,000 so far with an end goal of $250,000. The day the 28-year-old found his best friend, Dylan, after he died by suicide still plays on repeat in his mind.
"It was one of the hardest things that I've ever gone through," he said. A year later, Mr Chapman felt completely lost and like there was no other way out than suicide. "Last year, on Father's Day, I was in Melbourne, and that was also my daughter's birthday.
I had gone through a breakup on the same day," he said. "According to medical reports, I was cut out of a tree unconscious and unresponsive by the police and the SES, and I am very lucky to be here today." He remembered feeling as though his mental health was not taken seriously at the hospital with some doctors "having a bit of a laugh".
Mr Chapman said men's mental health was stigmatised in Australia with many brushing off or bottling up issues. "I believe that it doesn't make a man any less of a man to go through a struggle or show his emotions," he said. Around 610 kilometres in, Mr Chapman was set to leave Timber Creek, Northern Territory for Kununurra, Western Australia on Sunday August 10.
He pushes a custom-made trolley with jerry cans full of water, a tent, sleeping bag and camping chair, with an in-memory section on the back for people lost to suicide. Along the way, he has found a sense of community, on and offline, attracting more than six thousand Facebook followers. Thirty-five kilometres out of Katherine, Northern Territory, he clicked with people from a construction company, who often drove out and kept him company.
In Timber Creek, a local family had welcomed him into their home, Mr Chapman said. "I feel I am a part of something," he said. To support himself on the journey, Mr Chapman will post on the local town Facebook page, explaining his story and asking if he can do any jobs for cash.
Mr Chapman said people stop on the side of the road all the time to offer food, or followers offer to send him new shoes. "I'm welcomed by everyone that I meet with open arms," he said. "My own faith in humanity has been restored, people are so supportive.
" To donate to Mr Chapman's fundraiser visit: teamblackdog.org.au Journalist at the Newcastle Herald.
Email me at [email protected].
au Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.belzycki@austcommunitymedia.
com.au.
