Being Brutal – Gary Fahey Doing His Part to End Suicide

By the time the following has been read, 9 Australians will have taken their own lives. That’s 9 too many. Suicide is the leading cause of death for all people in Australia aged 15-44, the third leading killer for all people 45-54, and, alarmingly, the 5th leading cause of death of people over 14. No stranger to tackling mental health head on, Strong Men’d founder, Gary Fahey, is doing his part to raise awareness and decrease the stigma.

Participating in the ‘Be Brutal Burpee Challenge’, Gary is raising money and awareness for Gotcha 4 Life, a charity with a mission of zero suicides. As part of the challenge, Gary will be doing 100 burpees each day for 314 days – totally 31,4000 burpees. “This number is significant as there were 3139 people who committed suicide in Australia during 2020,” says Gary. “Therefore, I will be doing 10 burpees for each person, plus an additional 10 for anyone currently struggling with either their own life or losing someone to suicide.”

With the goal to raise $1 for every burpee, Gary’s journey also includes creating a continuous and ongoing discussion around suicide, mental illness, and supporting your friends and loved ones. “I’m calling on others to make the same pledge,” says Gary, “To call on mates to help out when I need it, to speak up when I am struggling, but continue to move forward no matter the hurdles I face.”

“Why am I doing this? Because I have been there, I understand and I want to help,” states Gary. Donations and support can be made here, and Gary’s mission can also be followed along on Instagram.

Gary Fahey is a mental strength and conditioning coach, highly sought-after speaker and bestselling author who embodies the mantra of “Lived it, Learned it, Earned it.” His unique Brutal Honesty brand was forged through 18 years with the Australian Federal Police, where he led the Australian Prime Minister’s Personal Protection Team and managed the Office of Commissioner; a deep, dark and destructive battle with mental health; and a combination of formal and informal education, coaching and mentoring to develop his own practical systems and structures for success.