South West walkers to tackle mental health with Cape to Cape Trek

People will lace up their hiking shoes this weekend for a walk on the Cape to Cape Track to raise awareness of mental health.

The Cape Walk For Life will bring people from all over the South West together to support those affected by mental illness.

Busselton mental health advocate and co-organiser of the walk Jon Eddy knows the pain of suicide all too well after his son ended his life on the track just two years ago.

Mr Eddy also lost his mother to suicide when he was a young boy, and years later tried to take his own life.

I understand this pain so intimately.

“I understand this pain so intimately. After I lost my son I didn’t think I could possibly live here anymore but our community and friends rallied around us and supported us. Now I could not possibly ever leave,” he said.

David Barton, organiser of The Man Walk Busselton — a men’s mental health walking group — said positive activities were a great way to improve mental health and he urged people to come down to the event on Sunday.

“When the community are struggling to come to terms with lives lost by suicide, I believe there is value in being able share that pain through positive community activities,” he said.

“There are ways to let the families and friends of those lost to suicide know that the community wants to care for them.”

The Cape Walk for Life will take place this Sunday at 9am from the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.

Register by calling 0438 230 570.

Lifeline 13 11 14