When Dave Roods lost identical brother Danny to suicide in November 2006 a decade-long battle with the Black Dog began.
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In the 15 years since, he has stared down mental health issues and melancholic depression, but his resilience has shone through.
He's in a good place now.
"Melancholic depression can strap you to the bed for days on end and two weeks ago I was strapped to the bed and it lasted a couple of weeks," Roods said.
While the death of his twin brother "rocked the sh*t" out of him, it also gave him the opportunity to learn from the devastation.
"No-one was having a better life than I was and when Danny did what he did it really rocked the sh*t out of me," he said.
"So the past 15 years haven't been a good ride from time to time, but the good times have outweighed the bad.
His brother's death made him a much more resilient and empathetic person.
"But it didn't stop the Black Dog from coming to visit me for sure and when it comes to visit, it's hard going," he said.
"I think I've always suffered mental health issues, from day one. It's very prevalent in the Roods' side of things and there are a number of my cousins, uncles and aunties that have suffered with mental illness at some stage of their life."
With the help of wife Tracie and a support network of friends - both male and female - Roods has been able to get the monkey off his back.
His advice is simple - if you're struggling, talk to someone.
"We all deserve to have good lives and people who suffer mental health are really doing themselves an injustice if they don't seek help ... I've had to," he said.
Twelve months ago, the family suffered another bodyblow.
"My nephew and Godson Gerard Roods' life was taken away from him so as a family we've had a pretty rough ride," he said.
"But you can't do it on your own. It's just too hard and you'll end up making the wrong decision and that's not fair.
"That's not fair on you and more importantly the legacy you leave through suiciding devastates families."
Roods has been admitted to a mental health clinic on three separate occasions which he says has been beneficial.
Along the way there have been multiple strategies put in place which has kept him "relatively sane".
Regional travel restrictions will prevent him from making the trip from South Coogee to Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday for the 24-hour row for mental health awareness.
It means he can't emulate his feat of 12 months ago when he rowed for 40-kilometres in just a couple of hours.
"Wauchope-Bonny Hills is a place that I hold very close to my heart and it's a fabulous event where I can have a row with the boys, but unfortunately that can't happen this year," he said.
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