Dr Matt Agnew opens up about the silent struggle of mental health

Let's chat about mental health

Dr. Matt Agnew has interesting commentary on mental health.

The astrophysicist and former Bachelor star talks mental health, outsmarting AI, and the power of social connection.

You rose to fame when you appeared on The Bachelor in 2019. What’s your experience of being in the public eye? 

I was introduced to the public through a shiny show that curated me as very well put together. It looked like I had my life sorted, and that I knew what I was doing. Since then, I’ve shown that underneath that confident, made-for-TV image, I was facing a lot of challenges. I think many people might think someone with mental illness will look or behave in a certain way, but that image can be strikingly different. 

You’ve freely discussed mental health, describing your struggles with anxiety and depression as the “enemy that never tires”. What strategies have you put in place to safeguard your wellbeing in light of that?

It’s not always obvious how much work people who grapple with mental health put in to try and manage it. There are several easy things that I stick to very, very strictly – I don’t drink, I typically eat right, I get regular exercise and adequate sleep. These are all helpful to maintain a good routine, but they’re not going to get you out of a crisis point.

I’m very lucky I can afford to see both psychologists and psychiatrists to help continuously monitor and manage things. Risk mitigation is important, too. Over time you start to learn that certain situations are unhelpful. This means you can prepare to mitigate the impact of what triggers you, or remove yourself from these situations.

And the last thing is connection. Humans are social creatures. We love to see and spend time with others, and when we do it creates this positive feedback loop. When things start sliding, it’s so important to try and get some socialisation, because it does really lift [you up] and help to arrest some of those [negative] feelings.

Social interaction and connection is a big part of our human nature. Image: iStock

Last year you spoke very openly about how you’d “put things in place” to end your life on two occasions in 2021. How did talking about that in the public domain affect you? 

I did it for a feeling of liberation. It was an unloading of a weight from my shoulders. 

I felt a lot of catharsis and relief in talking about it. Of course, I hoped it might be something that others found helpful, but I knew that I couldn’t control how it would be received. The outpouring of support and love was incredibly humbling and warming, but it was coupled with a real sense of heartbreak because so many people had a similar story, either of their own or of a loved one. In a broader sense, I hope it helped shine a light on mental illness and helped those who haven’t experienced it understand it a little better.

You’ve just published a new book, Is My Phone Reading My Mind?, which is aimed at educating kids about AI and the ethics around it. What’s next now the book has hit the shelves? 

I’ve always got a few plates spinning. The book has been in the works for a while, so I’m just so excited to have it come out and to continue to educate about AI – not just children, but adults, as well – to make sure everyone is equipped to navigate this new AI-driven world. I’m also working on growing my non-alcoholic beer brand, Pash, and continuing to try and destigmatize the decision not to drink. I’d like not drinking to become a normal part of social events – just like asking to not have mushrooms on your pizza.

Is My Phone Reading My Mind? by Dr Matt Agnew (Allen & Unwin, $20) is out now

Originally published as Dr Matt Agnew opens up about the silent struggle of mental health