After suffering first hand the devastation suicide causes loved ones left behind, he’s riding from Tamworth to Inverell to raise awareness about youth suicide. 

Chris Berkhout himself has battled with mental illness, but he was plunged into despair when his son Jarrod took his own life four years ago on November 13. “No father should have to bury his son,” Mr Berkhout said. 

“Jarrod was 19 years old with so much potential but he got caught up in his own personal struggle and just couldn’t see a way out.

“It was devastating.”

Mr Berkhout said Jarrod’s last Facebook post before he died shared how much he was looking forward to visiting his father in Sydney after Christmas. 

When he faces a looming hill or his legs start to tire, Mr Berkhout will look to the photograph of his son affixed to the handlebars – an image that captures Jarrod as a teenager in school uniform, with hair long about the ears. 

“That’s my inspiration, right there,” Mr Berkhout said. 

The pilgrimage is to honour his son’s memory and promote headspace Tamworth, which provides support to young people aged 12 to 25. 

But the five-day, 210km ride is also a crucial part of Mr Berkhout’s personal journey and healing. 

Mr Berkhout started the journey to visit his son’s grave in Inverell this year, but was waylaid in Tamworth, where he connected with Anglicare and Billabong  services which helped him find accommodation and achieve his goals. 

Mr Berkhout said the ride would finish the journey he started, as well as make something positive out of the tragedy. 

Mr Berkhout said he was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia in 1987, which was later changed to schizophrenic affective disorder in 2002. 

He knew first hand that people with mental illness in the not-too-distant past were simply “institutionalised” and not supported to live full lives. 

“You used to get shooed away if you asked for help,” he said. 

He was relieved mental health services had come such a long way in recent years and told people there was no shame or stigma in asking for help. 

Anglicare Partner in Recovery support facilitator Sue Budden said it was “a real privilege” to assist Mr Berkhout in making the journey.

Ms Budden said suicide has a huge impact on family and friends and it was inspiring to see Mr Berkhout take action and not be debilitated by his struggle with mental illness. 

She hoped he would prove an inspiration to others who were sitting in their own darkness to step out and seek help. 

Mr Berkhout will set out from the Gipps St car park along the Peel River at 7.30am today, a place he regularly visits for quiet reflection. 

He will cycle through Bundarra, Uralla and Gilgai before arriving at Inverell on Wednesday at 6pm, where a celebratory barbecue will be held to mark his journey. 

If you or someone you know needs help, ring Lifeline on 13 11 14.