Blue Wiggle Anthony Field reveals battle with depression

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field has opened up about his long-term battle with depression as he asks other men to speak up about their troubles.

Blue Wiggle, Anthony Field, has dedicated his career to making children smile but behind the joyful persona, he’s been battling private pain for years.

The former army veteran, 58, has openly struggled with clinical depression and suicidal thoughts and his mental health battle is ongoing.

“My struggles with depression and other mental health issues are only a bad day or bad week away unless I monitor how I’m feeling and reach out and talk to close friends or medical professionals when I feel myself spiralling down,” he said.

“It’s so important that men talk about their health, as we have a tendency to bottle things up. “I’ve had personal experiences of mental health challenges and have seen the impact it can have when people don’t seek help.”

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, has partnered with Politix to raise awareness about men's health. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Field is the last founding member of The Wiggles.

Field was released from the army at age 23 and developed an unhealthy lifestyle for 10 years which affected his mental health before his father convinced him to seek professional help.

The father-of-three found international fame with The Wiggles in the early 1990s and is the last remaining founding member.

While the children’s entertainment group recently underwent some changes following the departure of Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins, who was replaced by 15-year-old Tsehay Hawkins, Field has no plans to retire.

“Retiring is not in my psyche and doing something you love for a job is a blessing,” he said.

“I love being part of this fantastic, always evolving group. The Wiggles has been around for 30 years, and we’re always evolving.

“It’s also so critical that children see representation from not only different cultures, but also different ages. I love both being in the studio writing and recording music and also playing music live, and filming for TV and doing live shows is still exciting and creatively stimulating, here’s to the next 30 years.”

Field has teamed up with menswear retailer Politix and Movember, to raise funds and awareness to support men’s health.

“The Politix jacket I wear is called ‘I Cry Like a Boss’ and it encourages men to seek out a mate, a professional, someone to have a talk to or just take some time to have a good cry,” he said.

“Crying and letting yourself cry in front of others is liberating and cathartic. I cried just last week thinking about a friend of mine who is so worried about his very ill wife.”

Originally published as Blue Wiggle Anthony Field reveals battle with depression