The Harley-Davidson rider not afraid to cry and talk about his mental health

Now 40, Mr Philpot said "it's an ongoing struggle".

"There are good days and bad days," said Mr Philpot, a senior draftsman in the mining industry.

"When you're having those bad days, you need to have the tools to recognise the signs to get the help you need."

Mr Philpot, of Lake Macquarie, NSW, shared his story to mark a call for registrations for the Black Dog Ride in March.

The motorcycle ride aims to put a spotlight on depression and suicide prevention.

"There is too much stigma around men having to be tough all the time," Mr Philpot said.

"If a 120-kilogram bearded Harley rider like me can cry and talk about his mental health, so can everyone."

The motorcycle ride will be held in more than 50 places across Australia on Sunday, March 15.

The Hunter ride runs from the University of Newcastle to Paterson and Williamtown.

Money raised through the ride is donated to mental health services in regional and rural areas, where free help is limited or absent.

Newcastle Black Dog Ride co-ordinator Jeremy Brett said the ride "reminds us that meaningful change starts at a local level".

Mr Brett said the ride was about "connection, compassion and showing that no one has to face their struggles alone".

Mr Philpot said the camaraderie of the ride had been good for his mental health.

It helped him cope with the end of a long-term relationship.

"Getting to know people and making friends through the ride has helped," he said.

Last year, he gave a motivational talk at the start of the ride.

"I got up and told over 300 bikers, men and women, that I suffer from depression and had attempted suicide a week before," he said.

"But I reached out for help. I was OK and alive.

"Self harm is a recurring thing for me, but I realised we're not alone. We're human beings and we all struggle."

Living with depression and getting help made him realise "it's OK to feel shitty".

"But when times do get rough, you need to try to take action," he said.

"It's finding the help that will work for you."

He checks in with his GP and takes antidepressants, which he said "helps a lot and keeps a lot of the big thoughts away".

He had seen a counsellor, but said "the biggest thing that helps me is talking to mates".

"It is OK to talk to people. If I get down in the dumps, I'll ring a mate," he said.

"Or if I'm at work, I'll grab a workmate and have a five-minute chat about what's affecting me.

"As soon as you get it off your chest, you do feel a little bit better. I also talk to others to help them."

Mr Philpot has been riding since he was "knee-high to a grasshopper".

"I had kids and gave up motorcycles for a bit, but a brother got me back into it," he said.

He tries to ride his Harley-Davidson as much as possible.

"It clears my head and takes the worries of the world away," he said.

"They say the wind is in your hair, but mine is more in the beard. It's freeing."

Having overcome the despair of a relationship breakup, he found a new horizon.

"I'm getting married in September this year," he said.

He said having a partner who was "on the same page as me" was a big positive in his life.

Visit blackdogride.org.au.