Ben Pettingill lost 98 per cent of his eyesight overnight when he was just 16 because of a rare genetic syndrome called Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, but has managed to overcome the lowest point in his life to help others understand their own mental health.
An outdoorsy kid and an avid water skier, he remembers feeling really scared, like all his childhood hopes and dreams were crushed in an instant.
Two years later, with a broken ankle and following a very lonely birthday he believed he had reached his lowest point.
"All of my mates at school they were getting their [drivers'] licences," said Mr Pettingill, who hails from Yarrambat, north-east of Melbourne.
"So you can picture a guy who's lost his eyesight two years earlier, in a wheelchair, can't celebrate his 18th birthday.
"I felt really, really alone. I felt like a burden on people, and I felt like there wasn't much point to life at that point in time."
500kms of awareness
Now 23, a professional speaker and advocate of mental health awareness, Mr Pettingill has acknowledged that talking about his depression and negative thoughts was how he survived.
As well as support from the people around him.
"They were able to believe in me on a lot of those days when I didn't believe in myself or see the point to life," he said.
"Finding the courage and confidence to talk about it and knowing that whatever mental health issue is going on inside your head that it is normal and doesn't have to be this big thing that is a taboo topic and people don't want to talk about."
Mr Pettingill travels to regional communities to share how he overcame the lowest point in his life and helps others understand their own mental health.
He is part of a water skiing relay called Ski for Life, which heads up the River Murray on a 456-kilometre trek from Murray Bridge to Renmark in regional South Australia over just three days.
He has seen firsthand how detrimental it can be to ignore a traumatic experience or even just a lingering feeling of sadness.
"All of a sudden the person at the shop counter, they burst into tears because during the year or not that long ago they'd lost someone to suicide and they hadn't dealt with it," he said.
"There's definitely change that can be made by talking and it's just a massively awesome feeling to get that weight off your chest."
Bo Dearlove has been a "road angel" for the event for the past two years and was not prepared for how willing people were to open up.
"You do get people who will walk up to you and start a conversation and sometimes that can be quite emotional," Mr Dearlove said.
"I'm with a group of young lads and I think we weren't ready for the emotions that were in it [the trip]. Luckily we have a grief counsellor travelling with us."
Raising a positive culture
More than 200 participants took part in the event, including father-son duo Casey and Cash Cooper, with the 11-year-old skiing the entire 456 kilometres.
Mr Cooper said he had never considered discussing mental health with his friends or family prior to being involved in the event but "certainly" did now.
"It just makes you aware that you need to have a chat to your kids more often and your family and your close mates as well," Mr Cooper said.
"You listen to other people's stories and you find a little bit more in yourself that you can probably give to others."
And his son also confirmed he is now "definitely" comfortable talking to Mum and Dad about how he is feeling.
