By Esther Lauaki
Stephanie Rock has come through the worst part of a journey with depression and she’s about to embark on a new path of reflection.
The Sunbury woman, pictured, is in training to walk from Docklands to Darling Harbour in Sydney, starting September 8, to raise awareness about depression and suicide.
“I was on anti-depressants when I was about 12 years old and I hit rock bottom with my depression two years ago,” she said.
“A family member had always told me that you couldn’t tell anyone otherwise you’d get locked up, and so I never felt like I could talk about what I was going through.”
Ms Rock said that she would use her trek from Melbourne to Sydney to reflect on her life and share her story with people along the way.
“I was in intensive care in a coma for four days … the doctors weren’t sure if I was going to come through,” she said.
“It made me realise that I had to change things.
“When I got out of hospital, I went on a journey through the outback to think about my life and what I put my family through.
“I found that people were really embracing of me and I didn’t feel like I was hiding things.
“I felt like I could be myself again. I want to share my story with other people on this next walk.”
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