Triathlete and Olympian, Jaz Hedgeland was diagnosed with depression in 2015. When two years’ worth of injuries caused her to miss the World Championships, Jaz felt like she had lost her purpose.

“My training started declining and I didn’t know why. I saw a doctor because I thought something physical was wrong.”

It wasn’t until Jaz’s doctor asked about her mood that she realised how sad she had been feeling.

“I was able to act myself around others, but once I came home… and I was by myself, I’d just sit and cry for ages and not really know why.”

Jaz was also experiencing some other signs of depression, like finding it hard to get out of bed in the mornings and not finding joy in the things that usually made her happy.

Following her struggle with mental health, Jaz wants to encourage others to check in with themselves and have the difficult conversations when needed.

“When I had depression, I didn’t know the warning signs… When I was feeling sad I just pushed it aside and told myself with everything that I had, I should be happy.”

Jaz and over 130 other people registered to walk, run or roll in November’s Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run. Lifeline QLD was honoured to debut at the event and raise enough funds to answer 275 calls from people in crisis.

Your support means that we can make sure the next person like Jaz who reaches out, can receive the help they need and deserve. And by one step at a time, we can help guide them to get their lives back on track.

You can check out upcoming community events and other ways to fundraise for Lifeline Queensland HERE.