How this Aussie Entrepreneur is hydrating the world with happiness for mental health week.

In 2015, Sturt Hinton was recovering from deliberating depression when he came up with the concept of infusing water with the sound and light frequencies of Love, the Moon and Rainbows in a quest to create the finest beverages on earth.

“I was broke, homeless and could only afford to make 2 sample boxes of Frequency H2O. With my last $200, I bought a ticket to Sydney where in the middle of winter I put the water in a backpack and traversed the city on public transport selling to health food stores door to door," he says. 

“With every part of my soul I believed that love and rainbow-infused water could be the soda pop of the 21st century; and by creating such a product I could also support causes that bring other men who suffer from similar experiences back from the brink, and thereby lifting the spirit of the world." 

Hinton has since grown Frequency H2o into a global brand, winning gold in the coveted Berkley Springs Water competition earlier this year and earning the title of ‘World’s Best Water’. Frequency H2o is now in nearly 500 stores and has become a go to beverage for celebrities such as Katy Perry, Ruby Rose and is even followed by Paris Hilton. Sturt's own battle with depression and success has inspired him to help others by advocating mental health awareness. 

The need for more awareness around mental health issues, particularly in the Entrepreneurail world, was recently highlighted as a new study found that two-thirds of founders are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressed. Founders work an average of 64 hours a week, usually for less than their previous role and 96 percent report feeling stressed.

The KPMG Australia commissioned report surveyed 70 founders of Australian venture-backed startups. Head of KPMG Australia’s High Growth Ventures said their research was geared around highlighting the “unspoken challenges” our founders face.

“Founders play a key role in driving innovation, taking massive risks, both personal and financial, to solve industry problems and build global businesses, yet there is very little data around the mental and physical toll of leading a startup,” Price says.

“While living out my dream, I want to be able to help bring other men who suffer back from the brink and uplift the spirits of the world,” he says.

Hinton has linked up with KISS 1065 to provide hundreds of bottles of Frequency H2o, infused with the frequency of love, free of charge across Sydney in the coming weeks. He is also in talks with Banksia Project and Walk and Talk, to help support their efforts, share his story and inspire others to seek help.

Organisations like RUOK day on 13th of September and Mental Health Week are helping to highlighting the importance of asking the tough questions and speaking up if you need help. And it is stories like Sturts, which can shine a light on the struggles our founders are facing, the fact that you can come back stronger than ever and the importance of a cultural shift towards acceptance and support.

If you need help or know someone who does, please contact Beyond Blue.