Growing a Mullet for Mental Health – Turning Struggle into Strength

This April, I’m growing a mullet for Black Dog Institute’s Mullets for Mental Health—and I’m doing it because mental health isn’t an abstract idea to me. It’s something I live with. It’s something that has tested me, shaped me, and at times completely worn me down.

There have been periods in my life where I was not okay—where getting out of bed felt like a battle, where my mind was louder than anything around me, and where I felt stuck between trying to survive and trying to appear “fine” for everyone else. Mental illness doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like exhaustion, isolation, fear, shame, or quietly falling apart while still showing up.

I’ve learned how isolating mental health struggles can be. How easy it is to feel weak for needing help, or guilty for not coping the way others expect you to. I’ve also learned how powerful it is when someone listens, when support exists, and when you realise you’re not broken—you’re human.

In Australia, 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness in their lifetime, and most mental health conditions begin early in life. These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent people fighting battles you can’t see—people who deserve understanding, care, and access to real support.

By growing this mullet and fundraising, I’m choosing to turn something difficult into something meaningful. I’m standing up for honest conversations, for early support, and for organisations like the Black Dog Institute that save lives through research, education, and suicide prevention.

This mullet is a reminder that strength doesn’t mean pretending you’re okay—it means continuing, even when it’s hard. If you’re able to donate, share, or support this page, you’re helping ensure that people facing their darkest moments aren’t left alone.

Thank you for supporting me, supporting mental health, and being part of something that truly matters.