Suicide is the biggest cause of death among young people in Australia. A charity walk from Wanda to Kurnell on October 11 honours the memory of Richelle Turpin and aims to raise $30,000. Deborah Field reports.
RICHELLE Turpin, 26, of Menai, had a seemingly perfect life.
She had a beautiful son, 8, was due to marry the love of her life in December and enjoyed her job as a flights co-ordinator with Virgin Australia.
But behind her smile was a young woman struggling with mental illness.
She was six months into a five-year care plan with a psychiatrist when she took her own life in March this year.
The walk along the beach from Wanda Reserve to Kurnell aims to raise $30,000 for headspace Miranda and bring more awareness of youth mental illness.
The organisation provides free early intervention services to people aged 12 to 25 in the areas of mental, physical and sexual health. It also provides education in schools, where care is co-ordinated by a youth access team.
Brooke Turpin said they chose to raise funds for headspace because it provided early-intervention services to children at a young age.
"You'll be communicating with people not much older than you, or a similar age to you, and won't be talked at," Miss Turpin said.
"The more we help one another the more we create a better future for each other and our community.
"The thing is you'll never know when you'll need a service like this in your life."
Miss Turpin said Richelle was an outgoing person who loved to be the centre of attention.
"So I think having an event that was ignited by her, she'd probably be bragging about it up there," she said.
Depression, youth suicide and mental health ranked as the top three concerns facing people aged 12 to 24 in a 2011 survey conducted by Sutherland Shire Council for its Youth Strategy Report.
At least 2535 Australians took their own life in 2011.
TAKE PART
Step Ahead Walk will be on October 11, 9.30am-noon.
Registrations: stepaheadwalk.com.au/register.
Details: Facebook, Step Ahead Walk and headspace.org.au
Or Lifeline 13 11 144
Is there enough help for young people with mental illness?
