On Saturday 11 September, 600 firefighters and other emergency service personnel would have “stepped up to fight depression, PTSI and suicide” by climbing the 28 floors of Crown Metropol Hotel for this year’s Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb.
With COVID-19 restrictions in place, the event is again taking place virtually, with people encouraged to collectively climb a “million steps for mental health.”
For the fifth year running, the event is raising money for Lifeline services in Melbourne, operated by Uniting Vic.Tas.
With the with climb going virtual, anyone can get involved.
You can even join with a few others and make a team of up to four people.
From World Suicide Prevention Day on 9 September until World Mental Health Day on 10 October, you can get climbing – whether it be your back steps, some stairs at the local park or even a milk crate in the lounge room.
More than 3000 Australians take their own lives every year, so the challenge is for everyone to climb more than 3000 steps over the next month.
The stair climb aims to raise $500,000 for Lifeline, Fortem and the 000 Foundation to improve support services, fund research, remove stigmas and raise awareness of mental health issues like depression, post-traumatic stress injury and suicide.
Register here and start climbing today!
