In light of October being mental health month, I think it's safe to say that the events of this year have in some way affected all of us in terms of our mental health and emotional well-being. As someone who suffers from a mental illness myself, I know how important awareness, an accurate diagnosis and ongoing treatment is. The Black Dog Institute is the only medical research institute in Australia that investigates mental health across the lifespan. They hope to provide more understanding of mental health conditions, reduce stigma and ultimately develop more effective treatment plans for those suffering from mental health conditions. Therefore, during the month of October I will be giving up alcohol in an effort to raise money for this cause. Everyone knows how much I love a good glass of merlot, so make it worth the challenge and donate!