This week on Wellbeing we are talking with John Brogden AM about his journey with depression. This is the third instalment in our series on depression. John is best known for being the leader of the opposition in New South Wales from 2002 to 2005. He entered politics in 1996 when he was just 27 years of age and quickly became leader of his party in NSW at the age of just 32. Despite his success, John had been hiding another massive part of his life, his depression. It looked like John would lead his party to victory in the 2007 election, however this was not to be, and due to certain events John would resign from his position in August 2005. The day after his resignation, John slit his wrist in a suicide attempt. John thankfully survived that attempt and has since become a mental health advocate, and was the chairman of Lifeline. He is here today to share his journey with depression and how today he manages it.

In this episode John talks about his entry into politics, when depression started becoming a part of his life, the way mental health was viewed in politics while John was in office, what was going on with him mentally when he attempted to take his own life, how to talk to people going through suicidal thoughts about those thoughts, how going to rock bottom mentally has allowed John to appreciate his life more, and a bit about lifeline. 

"In a game like politics you're looking for hundreds, thousands, millions of people to vote for you, so you're out there propositioning all the time only to stuff up and only to let people down and feel so ashamed, which is how I felt. I then got to this position and I got there incredibly quickly and that position was that there is a way out of this problem, I've got this problem, my way out is to kill myself." - John Brogden AM talking about his struggle with depression on this episode of Wellbeing

Tune in next week when we talk with another person about their depression journey.

We would love to hear from you! If you would like to suggest topics, give us feedback, or just say hi, you can contact us on wellbeing@2nurfm.com

Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins 
Wellbeing website: https://www.2nurfm.com.au/wellbeing

This week on Wellbeing we are talking with John Brogden AM about his journey with depression. This is the third instalment in our series on depression. John is best known for being the leader of the opposition in New South Wales from 2002 to 2005. He entered politics in 1996 when he was just 27 years of age and quickly became leader of his party in NSW at the age of just 32. Despite his success, John had been hiding another massive part of his life, his depression. It looked like John would lead his party to victory in the 2007 election, however this was not to be, and due to certain events John would resign from his position in August 2005. The day after his resignation, John slit his wrist in a suicide attempt. John thankfully survived that attempt and has since become a mental health advocate, and was the chairman of <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au">Lifeline</a>. He is here today to share his journey with depression and how today he manages it.
In this episode John talks about his entry into politics, when depression started becoming a part of his life, the way mental health was viewed in politics while John was in office, what was going on with him mentally when he attempted to take his own life, how to talk to people going through suicidal thoughts about those thoughts, how going to rock bottom mentally has allowed John to appreciate his life more, and a bit about lifeline. 
"In a game like politics you're looking for hundreds, thousands, millions of people to vote for you, so you're out there propositioning all the time only to stuff up and only to let people down and feel so ashamed, which is how I felt. I then got to this position and I got there incredibly quickly and that position was that there is a way out of this problem, I've got this problem, my way out is to kill myself." - John Brogden AM talking about his struggle with depression on this episode of Wellbeing
Tune in next week when we talk with another person about their depression journey.
We would love to hear from you! If you would like to suggest topics, give us feedback, or just say hi, you can contact us on <a href="mailto:wellbeing@2nurfm.com">wellbeing@2nurfm.com</a>
Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins  Wellbeing website: <a href="http://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/wellbeing/">https://www.2nurfm.com.au/wellbeing</a>

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a podcast and nationally distributed radio show that is heard across dozens of community radio stations all over Australia. It is provided via the Community Broadcasting Association.

The show delves into the most pressing topics around mental and physical health, talking with leading experts in their fields and those with lived experience. The show is hosted by Jack Hodgins.

Wellbeing is a podcast and nationally distributed radio show that is heard across dozens of community radio stations all over Australia. It is provided via the <a href="https://www.cbaa.org.au/">Community Broadcasting Association</a>.
The show delves into the most pressing topics around mental and physical health, talking with leading experts in their fields and those with lived experience. The show is hosted by Jack Hodgins.

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