Gold FM host reveals ‘free form, honest’ plan for men‘s mental health group

Breakfast radio star Christian O’Connell is planning to start a weekly men’s group after revealing his own battle anxiety and panic attacks.

Jack Post, Christian O'Connell and Patrina Jones from The Christian O’Connell show.

Top rating FM breakfast radio host Christian O’Connell is planning to start a weekly men’s group – just him and three guys – to talk about mental health and the challenges of opening up about it.

The Gold FM star has decided to do it on the back of overwhelming feedback from listeners and readers of his book, No One Listens to Your Dad’s Show, in which he candidly reveals he has suffered from crippling panic attacks and anxiety.

Christian O'Connell with his book, No One Listens to My Dad’s Show. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“A mens group hosted by a guy with no formal training, who for large parts of his life, is a mess! Who wants in?”, he posted on Instagram.

“All your amazing emails after reading my book from men and women, one thing kept coming up from the guys, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. How hard it can be to talk openly and honestly as a guy.”

O’Connell says it took him years to admit he had anxiety and panic attacks “before I spewed it all up into my book!”

“The rise in male depression, anxiety and loneliness, which on the extreme scale leads to men taking their own lives, is driven by isolation, from themselves and other people. A few things recently on the radio show, the emails, have led me try and do something rather than just move on,” he says.

“I’m planning on doing a weekly mens group, of some sort, just me and three guys chatting. Unplanned, free-form, see where the conversation goes. I hope its something new that might help a bit, I hope it’s funny, I hope it’s honest.”

Christian O’Connell with his wife Sarah and daughters Ruby (17) and Lois (14), Reggie (poodle) and Nisha (German Shepherd). Picture: Tony Gough

He’s calling for listeners and readers who might be interested in joining him to email [e-mail]

O’Connell recently claimed his ninth straight FM breakfast ratings win on Gold FM after sensationally giving up his top rating British show to relocate to Melbourne with his family in 2018.

He was not an instant success, but his rare mix of humour and his human side, has seen him steadily rise to the top and maintain that position in the competitive timeslot.