THE Bathurst community is hoping to remove the stigma around mental health by getting people to connect with each other.
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Lifeline Central West and the Bathurst Wiradyuri Elders are bringing the Walk 'n' Talk for Life event to the city for the first time on Sunday, October 27.
People are invited to attend, make their way around the Macquarie River and talk with each other.
By building more connections within the community and showing there is genuine support for people, it is hoped that Walk 'n' Talk for Life can prevent suicide.
Lifeline Central West CEO Stephanie Robinson said this event would help people work on both their physical health and their mental health.
"I really like the synergy of it being a walk. We often talk about our physical health, but we can't separate it from our mental health," she said.
Wiradyuri elder Mallyan (Uncle Brian Grant) said that Aboriginal people have been walking and talking for a long time, so the concept of this event was a "natural thing" for them.
The elders, like Lifeline, feel strongly about supporting people who are struggling with their mental health and contemplating suicide.
"It is a big issue for Aboriginal people, the mental health side of things," Mallyan said.
"We lose more young people to suicide than we should."
As part of their involvement in the new event, the elders will give a welcome to country and healing smoking ceremony to start the day.
Mayor Bobby Bourke and councillor Alex Christian have praised Lifeline and the elders for coming together on this project and encouraged people to join in the event.
"It is hard for people to talk about their feelings and this is a good opportunity," Cr Christian said.
Cr Bourke added, "It is a good initiative of Lifeline and the Indigenous community, probably the best I've heard since I've come in as mayor."
Walk 'n' Talk for Life will be held in Peace Park between 10am and 12pm on October 27, starting at the Burbung Ngurrum circle of stones.
After the walk, there will be a free barbecue on offer.
The goal is to make Walk 'n' Talk for Life a monthly event, which can only be done with community support.
