This Mental Health Month, 12-year-old Lincoln Phillips from Sunbury will walk 60 kilometres in honour of his late dad, Shane.
Shane was lost to suicide in September 2021, and a year on, Lincoln is participating in the Black Dog Institute’s One Foot Forward campaign to raise money for mental health.
“I want to be involved because of my dad. He had a really bad mental health and it led him to suicide… I would like to support that cause,” Lincoln said.
He and his sister partook in the campaign last year too, walking in solidarity and strength with those experiencing symptoms of mental illness – which is one in five Australians each year.
“There’s an option where you can ride your bike, so I might ride a bike for a little bit of it,” Lincoln said.
“But the majority will be me walking after school some days and on weekends and I’ll try to do 5km per day.”
His mum, Bianca, said when the One Foot Forward cause was set up for Shane last year, her kids were “the first people to jump on board”.
“They were out every day to do as many kilometres as possible to dedicate to the cause, but mainly for their dad,” she said.
“It just makes me very proud because it’s all on them… it’s all off their own backs.”
It’s been a rough 12 months for the family, but Lincoln has been raising awareness about mental illness and starting conversations however he can – even on the footy field.
“I play footy for Rupertswood, and I just won a premiership with them,” Lincoln said.
“Every single day with them I wore a black armband, which is what you wear in footy when someone’s died.
“First game of the season, all my teammates wore a black armband as well.”
Lincoln and his mum both wanted to send a message to anyone experiencing mental illness – that there is support.
“You’re not alone, reach out and make sure you talk to someone about it,” Bianca said.
“It will always get better,” Lincoln said.
Details: www.onefootforward.org.au/fundraisers/lincolnphillips125312/one-foot-forward-2022
If you need mental health support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Mensline Australia on 1300 789 978.
Elsie Lange
