The man, the stuffed dog and their important conversations

Shane Wescott spends his workday supporting organisations with cyber security expertise, following years working in telecommunications in Defence. Outside of work, Shane dedicates much of his time to mental health advocacy and starting conversations about mental health.

For Shane, those conversations are strengthened by his role as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider) and his own experience with personal loss.

“Back in 1995, my dad passed away by suicide. When you lose someone close to you by suicide, it’s like it puts a scar on your brain.”

“You’ve got to try and work around that. It doesn’t heal but might get easier to deal with over time, and it has a great influence on the way you think about things,” Shane shares.

Finding purpose through connection

Shane’s experience inspired him to find opportunities to talk openly about mental health. Through community initiatives like Black Dog Ride, he found a platform to encourage connection – and a small stuffed dog named Winston, designed to spark curiosity and start conversations.

Since meeting, Shane and Winston have travelled the world together, connecting with people from all walks of life through open, informed conversations.

What keeps those conversations going, Shane says, are the skills and confidence he gained through Mental Health First Aid training.

“You learn a lot about yourself during the training,” he says. “It gives you background knowledge you just don’t get anywhere else – and gives you that mindset to really reach out, help people, and make sure they’re pointed in the right direction.”

He adds that the MHFA course gave him the confidence to not only have meaningful conversations about mental health but to also recognise when someone might be struggling and what to say next.

“It helps you have the confidence that if you talk to someone, you can connect them to the right support. You don’t necessarily know exactly what to say, but you know how to start.”

A moment of courage

It was at a family reunion in Ireland where Shane saw the power of open, informed conversations unfold.

Surrounded by more than 20 relatives and with Winston in hand, Shane shared his story. He explained how losing his dad led him to become a mental health advocate and an MHFAider – and the whole room listened intently. In sharing his story, Shane gave others permission to share theirs, too.

Afterward, one of his cousins reached for Winston for support and, for the first time, opened up about living with depression and managing treatment for more than a decade.

“Nobody in the family knew,” Shane says. “But when we share stories like this – that’s when the real conversations begin.”

Supporting men’s mental health

It’s in moments like these when men can begin to break the silence around mental health. 

As a trained MHFAider, Shane is helping to break down the barriers that have long prevented men from speaking up and seeking help when they need it. With Winston by his side and his mental health first aid skills in tow, he’s creating opportunities for honest conversations that can change – and even save – lives.

“If someone walks away from that feeling seen and supported – and with somewhere to go next – that’s everything.”