‘Mental health issues don’t discriminate’ says advocates and Coalition

Coalition MPs and mental health advocates say former prime minister Scott Morrison’s admission he was medicated for anxiety while in office show psychological issues don’t discriminate.

Scott Morrison has a swing at Cronulla Golf Club in his former seat of Cook. Picture James Horan

Coalition MPs, leading psychologists and mental health advocates say Scott Morrison’s admission he suffered from anxiety and was medicated while in office show psychological issues “don’t discriminate”, calling on the government to ensure help is equitable and affordable.

But former Victorian Liberal premier and Beyond Blue founder Jeff Kennett said it was “unusual that Morrison is saying this now” despite welcoming his efforts to reduce stigma around mental health.

“Stress, anxiety, being depressed, those are all normal parts of life. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t use depression as an excuse for bad behaviour or something else,” Mr Kennett said. “There are very few natural-born leaders. Very, very few. There are a lot of people who work their way up the management line, who get elevated to leadership, but do not have the skills necessary to handle the pressures.”

The Australian on Friday revealed Mr Morrison faced mental health challenges during his prime ministership, suffering from anxiety that became so acute he received medication for it.

Mr Morrison said that without the medication he would have fallen into a serious depression and that his anxiety during much of his time in The Lodge was “debilitating and agonising”.

Opposition health and aged-care spokeswoman Anne Ruston commended Mr Morrison for his honesty and hoped it would encourage others to speak openly about the challenges of mental health.

“Mental health does not discriminate, and Scott’s comments show that even the prime minister is not immune,” Senator Ruston said.

Then-speaker of the house Andrew Wallace said he made a point of asking Mr Morrison as often as he could “if he was OK”. “I would often say to Scott, ‘how are you?’ And he would always say ‘I’m good,” Mr Wallace said. “And I would make a habit of saying, ‘No, actually, how are you?’ And he would always say, ‘really, I’m all good’.”

Liberal senator Hollie Hughes said she had no idea Mr Morrison was struggling but his confession was indicative of the stress politicians were under at the time. “Our constituents were in lockdown, everyone was struggling,” she said. “It’s so important Scott has said what he said. Politicians are people too.”

Tegan Carrison, executive director of the Australian Association of Psychologists, said Mr Morrison’s admission would help reduce stigma as she commended him for his honesty.

With research showing 50 per cent of the population will develop at least one mental health disorder by the age of 75, Ms Carrison said the federal government must ensure access to affordable psychological services.

“Acknowledging you need help for your mental health issue is the first step and then seeking a professional like a psychologist to provide support is the best way to find that help you need,” she said. “We commend Mr Morrison for speaking up.”

Outgoing Mental Health Australia chair Matt Berrimen, who quit this week due to frustration over the Albanese government’s approach to mental health, said of Mr Morrison: “I applaud his vulnerability, especially noting his public role.”