By Celeste StevensMonday 29 Aug 2022Hope BreakfastHealth and WellbeingReading Time: 2 minutes
With suicide as the leading cause of death in Australians aged 18-24, this September it’s time to show you’re all ears for mental health research. All you have to do is shape and grow out your mullet for the month of September.
Tom Farrar from Black Dog Institute joined Hope Breakfast with Ally & Brendan to talk about “Mullets for Mental Health”, ahead of Father’s Day – what the initiative is all about and how people can be involved.
“Lean into having difficult conversations with friends. You don’t have to have all the answers, but there are support services available,” Tom, who is the Mullet for Mental Health campaign coordinator, said.
“Lean into having difficult conversations with friends. You don’t have to have all the answers, but there are support services available,” – Tom Farrar, Black Dog Institute
Mullets for Mental Health aims to raise awareness and funds for mental health in Australia. Tom explained that Black Dog Institute is the only medical research institute to investigate mental health across the lifespan of an individual, and the funds raised will go toward research and programs.
The conversation around mental health is an important one, and part of what Black Dog Institute is doing is looking into why people may not seek help for their mental health and how we can all be a part of creating change for the better when it comes to conversations around mental health.
People can get involved in Mullet for Mental Health by growing a mullet and also donating toward the campaign.
When asked “why mullets”, Tom explained, “mullets are attention grabbing, and can come in all shapes and sizes.” The aim is to break down barriers, open conversations and normalise talking about mental health.
Listen to the full conversation with Tom Farrar in the player above.