Running the Wellington Marathon for the Mental Health Foundation

I’m running the 2026 Wellington Marathon for the Mental Health Foundation next Sunday.

I’ve personally struggled with autism, depression, anxiety, psychosis, catatonia, eating issues, and suicidal ideation. There was a time when I believed I would never get better and be given up on by medical professionals. My life would be very different if not for years of mental health support through therapy, psychiatric ward stays, and life skills coaching.

Self-reported data from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission showed 15% of New Zealanders and 23% of young people experienced high or very high psychological distress in 2024/25. They also found 1 in 6200 New Zealand men died by self-inflicted causes in 2024/25. That’s far too many.

The Mental Health Foundation does great work supporting people through mental health struggles and advocating for better mental health systems and attitudes in our society. They fund community-led suicide prevention projects focusing on vulnerable groups like Māori, Pasifika, men, youth, rainbow and rural communities, as well as mental health programmes in schools helping young Kiwis develop the skills necessary for good mental wellbeing, and national campaigns such as Mental Health Awareness Week and Pink Shirt Day. Any donation really does make a meaningful difference, and I’d appreciate your support.