Biking Aotearoa for Mental Health

This Movember I'm riding my bike from Cape Reinga to Bluff to raise money for mental health support in Aotearoa. Track my progress here: https://strava.app.link/FLypE7FkZXb

New Zealand has the highest rate of youth suicide in the developed world. When I tell people what I'm doing, and where I'm going this month, they're often worried for me.

Because we know how dangerous our roads are - we have billboards that tell us the warning signs, and we even take count of how many people needlessly lose their lives each year.

Yet, for every death on our roads, we lose two people to suicide.

There are no simple answers on why and how this happens, yet we know the things that help in preventing these tragedies. Support. Connection. Recognition. Acceptance. That's why I'm raising money for a handful of charities, including:

Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust

Support for suicide prevention, bereavement, therapy, peer support and advocacy

LifeLine

Provides free and confidential support lines for those in crisis.

NZ Mental Health Foundation

Frontline service provider and advocacy group that runs community initiatives and awareness campaigns

Outline

Specialist counselling and a free and confidential support line for the rainbow community

Voices of Hope

Holds speaking events at schools across Aotearoa, sharing lived experiences of dealing with mental illness

Lads Without Labels

Student led and operated, focused on cultivating community and support networks for young men