And locals are being invited to join them on part of the journey.
As part of Wellways’ annual Break the Cycle ride, 17 riders and six support crew members will be stopping in Deniliquin and other flood-affected towns on their 835km journey to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.
The Wellways crew plan to arrive in Deniliquin at 4pm on Wednesday, March 29, and leave from Deniliquin BIG4 Holiday Park at 7.30am the following morning.
Ride participant and Wellways suicide prevention community development coordinator for the Murrimbigee region, Ned Evans, said everyone is invited to see them off on Thursday.
Locals who wish to ride alongside them for a few kilomteres are also welcome.
“We want them to sort of jump on board with the Break the Cycle journey as well,” he said.
“We're hoping that we can start up some of those conversations on the ride and then potentially, we could come back after the bike ride and really start to work alongside some of these communities too.”
Set to begin in Lake Cargelligo this Saturday and finish in Albury a week later, the Wellways Australia crew will be stopping overnight in Goolgowi, Hay, Balranald, Moulamein, Deniliquin, Barooga and Mulwala along the way.
Mr Evans, who is about to embark on his third Break the Cycle ride, said this year they are focusing on rural communities impacted by the devastating floods and supporting families who may have lost someone to suicide.
“The natural disasters are one thing but a lot of these towns are rural and some are fairly remote as well, so there isn't a large range of (face-to-face mental health) services available,” he said.
“As much as it may not feel like it all the time, and as isolating it can be out there, there is support. We are here.”
Wellways After Suicide Support coordinator Phillip Jones said Break the Cycle is a “fantastic initiative to involve local communities” as the crew are travelling through these towns.
“It really helps to bring awareness and start the conversation about mental health and suicide and give a greater understanding, so that's what I love about it,” he said.
“It's just one way of introducing a very serious and important topic in sort of a fun sporting way.”
Mr Evans said the purpose of the ride is to show their support and remind people there are mental health services like Wellways who are here to help.
“We're doing it to break the cycle of stigma and break the cycle of suicide and showing that we are here to support the community on that front,” he said.
As a mental health organisation, Mr Evans said Wellways has “a suite of different psychosocial programmes” that they offer people in the Murrumbidgee to support them.
“We have workers that would support them through their mental health recovery, but also to get access to appropriate accommodation and housing and things like that,” he said.
“For instance, if someone was struggling with homelessness or accessing and maintaining appropriate housing, we'd look at putting them into a housing programme, which is a housing and accommodation support initiative.”
“Our suicide prevention arm of Wellways supports people three months after a suicide attempt to recover and get back out in the community.”
• Anyone requiring crisis support can contact Accessline on 1800 800 944, Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14, BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. Resources and support information is also available at www.denimentalhealth.org.au.
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