"We are in a great depression": Guy Sebastian opens up on personal issues and society's ills
Acclaimed singer Guy Sebastian has opened up about his personal experiences with mental health and has reflected on the modern challenges people face, especially children.
“I have had personal experience with mental health, both in my family and friendship circles,” Sebastian said.
“What we need to remind ourselves of on a daily basis is that people can be struggling and not show it, or really struggling and wear it front and centre. It’s such a fine line and is an individual experience for everyone.”
Sebastian is part of a men’s mental health campaign called MEN-tality by famed photographer Peter Brew-Bevan, whose featuring portraits of notable figures with heartfelt messages.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by a growing number of Australians as well as to encourage them to seek out help when they need it.
“When I was growing up, we didn’t talk about mental health in class at school,” Sebastian said.
“I think mental health is not just the big stuff but the everyday problems. I truly believe we are in a great depression. Our kids are facing realities that we simply didn’t face as we didn’t grow up like this.
“We need to prepare them for what is ahead — that is our duty not only as parents, but as part of the human race. We have all just learnt to try and get through it the best we can, but that isn’t enough.
“We need to help them build their self-worth and moral structure that just isn’t there.”
Brew-Bevan has shot a range of portraits and will be releasing them periodically over the next coming weeks.
“This project came to fruition after my personal experiences last year learning about the loss of two men within my wider social circle to suicide,” Brew-Bevan said.
“I have become passionate about getting the message out there — to hear and to be heard,” he said.
“To help inform other men how to talk and how to listen to each other as I have come to realise, we all have issues that need to be lightened.”