Australian ex-PM Morrison reveals anxiety struggle
By Hannah Ritchie
Australia’s former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed he sought treatment for debilitating anxiety during his time in office.
In a new book, Mr Morrison points to “pure physical exhaustion” and the “unrelenting and callous brutality of politics” as central to his struggles.
He said he was sharing his story to “de-stigmatise” mental illness.
“My doctor was amazed I had lasted as long as I had,” Mr Morrison writes, in an extract published by The Australian.
“Without this help, serious depression would have manifested.
“Politicians are not made of stone, yet they’re often treated as though they are, including by each other,” he continued.
Mr Morrison – a conservative who led Australia from 2018 to 2022 – wrote on social media that he wanted to “normalise” something that was “very common for many Australians”.
He also told ABC News that he wanted to make clear that politicians experiencing mental illness can still perform at a high level.
