In a country which measures its success not by Gross Domestic Product but rather Gross National Happiness, Phill Dernee is hoping to take the fight against mental health stigma to the next level.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After hotfooting through the Australian desert last year for Big Red Run, Phill's next challenge will be to hike through the Himalayas for the Black Dog Institute's Bhutan Trek to Happiness in October.
The 12-day trip includes six days of hiking at elevation levels of up to 4,700 metres.
The ultra-marathon runner, who hails from Cowra, has always been fascinated by the tiny nation, which shuns backpackers and independent travellers.
He said he hopes his time in the Buddhist kingdom will help him unlock the secret to happiness.
"A big part of visiting Bhutan is to immerse myself in the local culture and try and discover some of the factors that might be contributing to this level of wellness, happiness and outlook on life that differs so much from 'the rat race'," Phill said.
"Interestingly Bhutan's level of mental health issues, compared to the west, is minuscule."
Phill believes that mental health is an integral part of overall well-being which is often overlooked, ignored or stigmatised unfairly.
"Suicide is now the number one cause of death amongst Australians aged 15-44, ahead of both road accidents and cancer," he said.
"Personally I can vividly recall around half a dozen young people, mainly adolescent guys, who took their own life during my own school years in Cowra and can still see the ripple effects this has had on their friends and families."
Phill's still wearing down his soles, running hundreds of kilometres through training and marathons to ensure he's physically and mentally ready for the trek.
As the Himalayas dwarf Australia's highest point Mount Kosciuszko however, he won't be able to do any real altitude training until he touches down in Bhutan.
Through his journey, he's hoping to promote the idea that just like physical health, mental health can be strengthened and conditioned simply by taking some time each day to be kind to yourself and others.
He's also aiming to raise $3500 through a raffle, which prizes include a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, Commando Steve's (from The Biggest Loser) 13-week fitness training program and Pat Farmer's book "Pole to Pole.
To see more prizes and to purchase raffle tickets, head to Phill's website: www.philldernee.net.
To support Phill in his Trek to Happiness, you can also sponsor him via his fund-raising page: http://bhutantrektohappiness.gofundraise.com.au/page/philldernee.
