Putting One Step Forward for the Black Dog mental health walk

COFFS Harbour’s Codie O’Connor is striding out during October to raise $5000 in the Black Dog Institute’s One Foot Forward walking event for mental health.

People such as the 34-year-old will run or walk during Mental Health Month to support the one-in-five Australians who experience mental illness.

He will be walking in celebration of the hard-earned knowledge that he is now living the life he always wanted: a life that seemed out of reach as he suffered hopelessness throughout his childhood and teens.

“When I was two months old, my dad committed suicide,” Mr O’Connor said.

“As a boy I was constantly trying to figure out why he did that to me.”

He sought answers in drugs, alcohol and crime, choosing anger as his defence – even attempting suicide.

“I always had doubts about myself, as the little kid with ADHD I had no friends,” he said.

“I built a character to survive, but that character nearly killed me.

“Until I recovered, I didn’t know who I was.”

Having found himself in that darkest place, Mr O’Connor said that even there he found the spark that helped him achieve the happiness he didn’t think was open to him.

“Through the Black Dog Institute’s One Foot Forward, I want to share my story to show others the possibilities that come with good mental health,” he said.

“I’m now doing my best work, living my purpose and have a beautiful wife who I love dearly, and a baby girl.”

Since his recovery, O’Connor has built a coaching business for young people and adults, incorporating all he’s learned.

“The worst thing I do now is binge on Netflix now and then,” he laughed.

He plans to step out every day throughout October and would welcome anyone who’d like to join him.

Follow Codie’s progress and see opportunities to walk beside him throughout October on his Facebook page, Codie James O’Connor.

By Andrea FERRARI