'I was close to having a breakdown': Veteran TV host Andrew Denton reveals his 'debilitating' struggle with mental health forced him to put his career on hold
Veteran TV host Andrew Denton, 58, has spoken candidly about his private battle with mental health at the height of his career in 1990s.
Speaking to Mamamia's No Filter podcast this week, the Interview presenter revealed he was forced to put his career on hold in 1994 after almost suffering a mental breakdown.
'I had started a new two-nights-a-week live show at Channel 7. I was only probably about six weeks into it, and I had to step away. I was close to having a breakdown,' he confessed.
'I was close to having a breakdown': Veteran TV host Andrew Denton, 58, has spoken candidly about his private battle with mental health at the height of his career in 1990s
During the two weeks he was away from work, Andrew decided to seek professional help for the first time in his life.
'That was the first time I was introduced to medication, which doesn't solve your problem, it just gives you a ladder to climb out of the hole,' said the father-of-one.
Andrew described his mental health battle as 'debilitating', but revealed that he has since learned to deal with negative thoughts and anxiety.
'I had started a new two-nights-a-week live show at Channel 7': Speaking to Mamamia's No Filter podcast this week, the Interview presenter revealed he was forced to put his career on hold in 1994 after almost suffering a mental breakdown
The beloved journalist has become an advocate for mental health over the years.
Speaking to the Huffington Post in 2017, he spoke about the importance of encouraging men to speak about depression and anxiety, as his father's generation simply didn't talk about mental health issues.
More recently, he publicly slammed reality show Married At First Sight, labelling its premise as 'psychologically damaging' to the participants.
Overcoming hurdles: Andrew described his mental health battle as 'debilitating', but revealed that he has since learned to deal with negative thoughts and anxiety
'All my friends use the same word to describe it - it's cruel. I don't like where we're at where hunting humans is our new sport,' he told BW magazine last month.
'We have hunted down every other animal into a corner, if not extinction, and now it's us,' he said.
For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
'All my friends use the same word to describe it - it's cruel': More recently, he publicly slammed reality show Married At First Sight, labelling its premise as 'psychologically damaging' to the participants. Pictured are MAFS' Nic Jovanovic and Cyrell Paule
