Hiking for Hope- Mental Illness and Suicide Awareness

Hi, my name is Billy. This summer, myself and other outdoor enthusiasts will be hiking in the outdoors to raise awareness for suicide and mental illness. Many kiwis suffer from mental illness in silence and sadly take their own lives.

In New Zealand, there is a massive stigma towards those that attempt suicide. I myself have suffered from depression and anxiety since I was 12 years old. I have spent time in the mental health system for many years and there are gaps in it I beileve we in our own communities can help fill.

I want to be part of the solution and help people fight their mental illness struggles. So I am starting a campaign where people will go hiking on multi-day and day hikes to raise awareness about suicide and mental health issues in New Zealand. We can help save people's lives by educating ourselves and understanding what it's like for people suffering from mental health issues and helping our friends and family affected by these horrible diseases.

I am going to be raising money for Voices of Hope, a fantastic non-profit organization started by mental health survivors that create content dedicated to educating people to make a change around the mental health conversation. I will also be raising money for the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation.