Chad Pay once believed he’d be a jockey for life. But when that chapter ended at just 20, he found himself searching for direction. He moved into mining and spent the next decade working hard, building a reputation for his strong work ethic.

When he lost his job, financial pressure and debt began to take their toll. Struggling with his mental health, Chad turned to drugs to cope. Addiction slowly changed him, and he eventually hit rock bottom, living in a drug house and feeling completely lost.

His turning point came with a call to his brother, asking for help. That decision saved his life. With the support of his family, Chad began the long road to recovery, fighting every day to overcome addiction and rebuild his life.

Along the way he met his wife Jade, who became his safe space, and he started his own business. But years later burnout crept in, and Chad again found himself struggling in silence. Feeling broken and defeated, he attempted to take his own life.

He survived and seeing the pain his family felt became another moment of clarity. Within days he made the decision to fight again.

Today, Chad focuses on reconnecting with himself and others, working on his mental health every day. His message is simple: recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but there are always options and there are always people who want to help.

Watch Chad’s full Everyday Mates story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA9kRpbTezA