The destruction that echoes through families and communities when a loved one is gone, and there are no answers. 

Just over a year ago, Liane’s son David died by suicide.

To Liane, he was her “sunshine” and his death has inspired her to raise awareness of mental health and a lack of funding, to ensure no mother feels what she feels.

“After he died I had a week in the clinic myself, because I didn’t want to be here without him,” she said.

“Life was unbearable, even now some days are unbearable. 

“But I wanted to do something, for something to come of it and so I might help someone else’s sunshine.”

On the one year anniversary of David’s death Liane and her husband Tony left their home in Chillingham on the NSW and Queensland border to walk across Australia for 365 days. 

Last Sunday, Liane walked from Wagga to The Rock and the following day continued on to Henty.

“He was my only child,” Liane said.

“David was 28 years old when he took his life, he battled from depression and mood disorders for a number of years, it was a really tough journey for him.

“He was very vibrant, social and sunny, a bit of a risk taker, but a really lovely young man in so many ways.

“This kind of grief – it’s a terrible suffering – I want to do something positive from this suffering.”

As they walk across Australia with their pug and David’s golden retriever, Liane and Tony aren’t raising money, they’re raising awareness and building momentum to hopefully convince governments to better fund mental health.

Liane said mental health accounted for about 14 per cent of Australia’s health burden but gets about 7 per cent of the health care budget, depending on what state you live in.

“This story has been mine, but I’m not alone in the story,” she said.

“It’s a story that is shared by thousands this year alone, and it was shared by thousand the year before and will be shared by thousands in the years to come if we don’t get change happening.

“Funding for mental health is really low, we need better outcomes and access to services – the whole gambit really, early intervention, prevention, community treatment, crisis centres and inpatient beds all need to be better funded.”

Liane and Tony passed through Albury on Thursday and continued through Victoria’s North East on Friday. 

They said they received a huge and varied response during their travels, including people who feel the government won’t listen.

People can follow their journey at Walk for Sunshine on Facebook.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental illness, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.