Get your mullet on for mental health

The mullet is one of the more interesting trends to emerge out of the pandemic. It seems the hairstyle with its short top and sides and long back was an easy one to DIY at home during COVID lockdowns.

Black Dog Institute noticed this trend and put it to good use, raising money for mental health research through its Mullets for Mental Health campaign, which is now in its third year. Black Dog is the only medical research institute in Australia to investigate mental health across a lifespan, aiming to create a mentally healthier world for everyone.

Campaign co-ordinator Tom Farrar said almost 80 per cent of Australians found their mental health had worsened during the pandemic, and many experienced ongoing mental health concerns. “Mullets for Mental Health is a fun and engaging way to ignite those important mental health conversations that we need to be having,” Tom said. “It’s a way to show your fellow Aussies that you’re all ears for mental health by raising funds to drive groundbreaking research into the early detection, prevention and treatment of common health disorders.”

Mullets for Mental Health has raised more than $9.6 million for mental health research over the past two campaigns, and this year’s campaign will help continue that important work.

Twenty-four-year-old Rosebud resident Leela Subramaniam is joining the campaign again this year after raising $1350 last year with her eye-catching bleach blonde mullet. “I started out with the goal of raising $250,” Leela said. “I shared my goal on social media and my friends and family know how important the cause is to me because I’ve had two people in my family die by suicide; one was my dad almost five years ago.”

Leela sees Mullets for Mental Health as an opportunity for people to take action and help find solutions to mental health issues. “It’s nice to do something, and hopefully other people don’t have to go through what I’ve been through if the donations help in any way possible.”

Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians aged 15-44. Data shows that 45 per cent of Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetimes. With statistics like that, the cause is clear.

Money raised in previous years has supported programs such as Under the Radar, which looks at the characteristics, experiences, and barriers to accessing clinical support for those with poor mental health but who are not seeking support. Donations have also helped expand Future Proofing, Black Dog’s schoolbased five-year trial that aims to prevent depression and anxiety in young people.

If you’re keen to be part of the solution, you can register to take part in Mullets for Mental Health at www. mulletsformentalhealth.org.au. If you’d like to skip the mullet but still want to support the cause, go to Leela’s page at https://bit.ly/3QlM7Kt