TAMWORTH father of seven, Chris Berkhout, will cycle out of Tamworth tomorrow, on a journey of healing.
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Accompanied by his kelpie/cattle dog Tezza, Mr Berkhout will mark the fifth anniversary of his son’s suicide, arriving in Inverell on Thursday.
His aim is to help remove the stigma around mental illness and raise awareness of youth suicide.
Knowing suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 44, Mr Berkhout wants to see these shocking statistics change.
Along the way he will promote headspace Tamworth, which provides support for young people aged 12 to 25 years.
“Don’t be afraid to say you’re not OK. Early help is the best way to get back on track,” he said.
“We get caught up in the shame and are afraid to admit that we are not OK – and it’s not doing us any good.
“That young people think there is no hope in their life is heartbreaking and we need to do something about it.
“I need to do this for my own personal recovery and to process my grief and come to terms with the loss of my son.
“The trip is about making something positive out of Jarrod’s memory. 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.”
Diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1987, which was later changed to schizoaffective disorder in 2002, Mr Berkhout knows from experience what a major impact mental illness can have on your life.
Despite having divorced his wife and living a homeless life for many years around Sydney, Mr Berkhout’s attitude remains positive. He hopes by sharing his story he can be an inspiration to others who may have been through a similar experience.
Since arriving in Tamworth he has been a part of the Partners in Recovery program.
This innovative program aims to support people with severe mental health problems who may have been left behind by the system, supporting them to make choices and take control of their life.
Mr Berkhout has been supported by Anglicare Counselling Service and One of a Kind Community Support, both of which have encouraged him to follow his dream.
“Encouraging people to be an active part in their recovery and empower themselves to reach their own potential is a key to our service,” Partners in Recovery support facilitator Sue Budden said.
“It’s been a very humbling experience, seeing Chris develop this idea and put it into action.”
He leaves at 8am tomorrow from the Bicentennial Park footbridge.
Fellow riders are welcome to join him for part of the journey as he travels via Bendemeer, Kingstown, Bundarra, and then into Inverell via Gilgai.