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360 Created a Mental Health Charity Called the 180 Movement, So This Article Basically Wrote Itself

As 360 launches a mental health movement, the Australian of the Year becomes obvious.

Image: @3ree6ixty

Earlier this year, 360 released a song on Facebook about his addiction to over-the-counter painkiller Neurofen Plus, the backstage overdose that landed him in hospital, and how he got clean from there. It was called "I’m Sorry", and by now, nearly 12 million people have watched it. Thirty-five thousand people have replied to the post, either to applaud 360 or share their own stories of addiction to over-the-counter drugs. Here is the song again if your memory has faded.

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360 - I'M SORRY

exactly 1 year ago i was on tour, something happened and i had to cancel the rest of the tour. This is what happened…

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on Friday, January 8, 2016

Good, intense, honest stuff, huh? For a tonne of Australians addicted to codeine (the additive ingredient in most over-the-counter painkillers) 360’s post became a meeting place, a confession booth, and a narcotics anonymous meeting all rolled into one. Why? Because it’s probably pretty embarrassing to tell your friends you’re addicted to Neurofen, and if a Facebook thread is the only place you’ll get taken seriously, that’s good enough.

Of the 35k responses to "I’m Sorry", one admission stood out: most people were hiding their addiction from friends and family. 360 did the same thing—“The worst part about it all is that I didn't tell anyone, kept it to myself and didn't wanna be a burden,” and he reckons it’s the most damaging thing anyone can in that position can do.

“I do the typical man shit of like, ‘I’ll get over it, I’ll toughen up,” sixty said. “But when the shit gets really really dark, and those fucking scary thoughts start coming in, that’s when you’ve got to start talking, and you’ve got to tell people about it”

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He’s right. Since suffering in silence is never a good thing to do, 360 is creating a space for people to talk about mental illness openly—with the help of James Kennedy, an old mate from the Ringwood days. It’s called the 180 Movement.

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If you've been following my music over the last few months you'd know that I've had some really fucked up struggles with addiction and mental illness and the worst part about it all is that I didn't tell anyone, kept it to myself and didn't wanna be a burden.. After seeing the reaction to "I'm sorry" and seeing how many people are going through something SO similar but are also doing so in total silence, it's inspired us to create The 180 Movement ….

Posted by

on Friday, March 18, 2016

Here’s the mission statement, straight from 360’s mouth: “We wanna create healthy conversation and action around mental health, addiction, and other issues in society that aren’t openly discussed. That’s the movement. We want to move people away from suffering in silence.”

“Anyone, whether it’s mental illness or addiction, if you feel like your life is heading in a direction you’re not really happy with, we can help you find a solution to turn it around.” The 180 Facebook page is up now, but the movement will exist offline too. Sixty promises he’s going to get “very hands on” and visit rural communities across Australia in coming months.

In a more formal statement James and Sixty detailed more of 180 Movement's goals, which include “advocating for those who are suffering from mental health, addiction, domestic violence, and social cohesion issues within the community.” 180 will be creating their own programs—presumably the ones they plan on taking to regional communities—while at the same time “supporting, adding value, and advocating for the existing programs and initiatives that are operational within the community, and whose objectives and beliefs align with our own.”

There you go. Here’s the download link for his latest mixtape, so you can atone for doubting that 360 would come through with the activism Australia needs. No, we’re not taking the piss. This the kind of thing that will reach people—especially men—who still feel shame around talking about mental illness, or just admitting they aren’t having a sick one.

If 360, a bloke’s bloke who grew up 21 train stops away from Melbourne Central can open up about his feelings, we all can.

Let the Australian of the Year nominations reflect this deed.