Who doesn't love (or love to hate!) the great Australian mullet?

It's not a hairstyle, it’s a lifestyle! It's business in the front, and a party at the back!

And now there's one more great reason to grow your hair in this much loved style - raising money for mental health.

Combining humour with a serious subject, The Black Dog Institute is calling on Australians to shape and grow a mullet to raise funds for crucial research and there are plenty of reasons to shape and grow your luscious locks.

Last year the Mental Health Commission of NSW released a report specifically targeted to the Western NSW regions.

It found that people in our region (29.4%) experience mental and behavioural conditions that are higher than the NSW average (19.1%).

The report also stated that in 2017, the suicide rate in Western NSW (13.4 per 100,000) was 1.2 times higher than the NSW average (10.8 per 100,000).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people received community mental health services at 2.5 times the rate of non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Black Dog Institute also supplied some sobering statistics.

• Suicide is the leading cause of death in males aged 15-44
• Over 75% of mental health problems occur before the age of 25
• 1 in 5 Australians experience a mental illness each year
• 9 people (7 men and 2 women) in Australia die by suicide every day.
• Over 50% of people living with mental illness will not seek professional help

It's plenty of inspiration to get involved - and a good excuse to grow that mullet you've always wanted.

A celebrity mullet anyone?

If you would like to get involved, the first step is visit mulletsformentalhealth.org.au to sign up - it's free!

Then you can shape, grow and let it flow. It's a uniquely Australian way to start conversations and fundraising to support fund crucial mental health research.

In April, show you're all ears by shaving in and styling your mullet!

Once your mullet is at it's peak, there is always the option to keep it that way and join the national Mulletfest (not affiliated with Black Dog Institute) which also raises money for charity.

There are heats across Australia all through 2024, with the grand final held in the Hunter Valley in December. If nothing else, it's worth scrolling through the photos from last year's competition, just for the inspiration!