Park said his illness was like going “to hell and back” and he now wants to help others in the same situation.
“It was such a dark time. If anyone was to go through that stuff, I would do anything to help.”
In 2023, he was a guest speaker at Tumanako, talking to patients and staff about his experiences, and also shared his story in the Northern Advocate.
On Sunday, Park will run a fundraiser for the Mental Health Foundation, with all profits from sushi sold at Sushi Republic Okara on the day being donated to the charity.
He believed the foundation would know where best to use the funds, such as helping where there are gaps in Government mental health funding.
As well as the fundraiser, Park hopes the event will help reduce the stigma of mental illness and show what is possible for recovery.
“I’m trying to show that you can be unwell and come out the other side and still live your life,” he said.
There was also a nice synergy between sushi and mental health, as eating healthy foods could help improve mental health.
“There are different ways of gaining dopamine,” said Park, who has completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in psychology.
“I think that’s a major thing: fatty foods don’t lead to long-term happiness. Exercise and health stuff [food] really does have an effect on your brain.”
The theme of the fundraiser is: “Eat sushi, help minds”.
Park hoped the fundraiser would turn into a regular event, possibly with more organisations getting onboard in future.
Sushi Republic Okara, in shop 5 of Okara Shopping Centre, is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday.
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