Dale Skinner will lead the Walk for a Bloke in Shepparton.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Mental health can be a sensitive topic of discussion.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Dale Skinner, who leads Shepparton’s Walk for a Bloke, has been facing his own mental health challenges since adolescence.
Mr Skinner was initially diagnosed with depression at 19, but “like a lot of blokes”, he felt ashamed and chose to ignore it.
It wasn’t until after a suicide attempt that the situation become too dire to avoid.
Mr Skinner was re-diagnosed at 22, and when he turned 28, it was found that he was suffering from bipolar two disorder.
While bipolar type one and type two may seem similar, they differ in the intensity and duration of their symptoms.
In bipolar two disorder, major depressive episodes are more common, while manic episodes occur less frequently and are less severe.
Mr Skinner found himself navigating a foreign reality without any guidance or support.
“Bipolar wasn’t even spoken about in my teenage years, and when I was diagnosed, I didn’t even know what bipolar was,” Mr Skinner said.
“I didn’t have the conversations with my parents or friends that I was struggling ... that I felt shame, that I felt guilt, and I sort of just didn’t know who I was.“
Since 2011, Mr Skinner has been dedicated to mental health advocacy, sharing his lived experience as a volunteer presenter.
By sharing his journey and connecting with other men who might have gone through similar instances, Mr Skinner found a profound sense of purpose in his life’s work.
“So for me, I feel a sense of necessity and obligation (of) the fact that I can talk about my struggles ... I can talk about my experiences,” Mr Skinner said.
“I think if we see someone do something, or we hear someone talk about something, it makes it easier for (us) to do it ourselves.”
After speaking to charity Spoke to a Bloke midway through last year about expanding Walk for a Bloke to other areas, Mr Skinner jumped at the chance to bring the event to Shepparton.
Breaking the silence surrounding men’s mental health can be as simple as a walk and talk, making a world of difference.
Walk for a Bloke is coming to Shepparton on Saturday, March 22.
Dale Skinner wants to shine a light on men’s mental health.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
To raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health, a 25km walk will start and end at Victoria Park Lake.
The event will begin at 7am and end at about 1pm, but participants are advised to arrive at 6.30am for a check-in before it starts.
For walkers who might grow weary along the track, rest stops will be set up.
Come prepared with comfortable walking shoes, a small backpack, at least one litre of water, sunscreen, a hat and snacks.
At the end, blokes are invited for lunch at the GV Hotel to celebrate and continue conversations that were started on the track.
Tickets can be purchased online for $59 for participants and $49 for supporters eager to cheer on the important men in their lives.
A trivia night will also be held on Saturday, March 8, with a $500 prize for the winning team.
35°C