This guy is very brave. I can see that he clearly doesn't want to really talk about this, and in fact he says as much, but this post gives him dignity and acknowledges a problem that can happen (and happens!) to many people.

In Australia, there are a lot of organisations trying to help de-stigmatize mental health disorders and illnesses. We still have a very "she'll be right" culture, which meant that men in particular have hidden their inner turmoil and not dealt with their mental health issues. But lately we have had a national conversation around this. Things that have helped:

* We made Patrick McGorry Australian of the Year. Patrick is Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and has been very influential in studying and improving early intervention services for youth experiencing mental health problems.

* The ABC put out Mental Health Week, which was great as it allowed a national conversation around mental health

* Governments, whilst still largely failing at providing adequate mental health services, are at least starting to provide more funding and get real about this issue. Even Tony Abbott, who I have almost no respect for, increased funding for mental health even though he decimated the budgets of pretty much every other department.

* Andrew Robb, a senior minister in the Abbott and Turnbull governments, had a very bad case of depression and took time off with the bi-partisan support of all sides of politics. He has been one of the LNP's most effective ministers (whilst I can't stand the TPP, it is probably true that he is the most effective Trade Minister this national has ever had) and has shown that you can have mental health problems and still be effective in the workplace.

* The Black Dog Institute and Beyond Blue have really made in-roads into mental health awareness. Both organisations are there solely to advocate and increase awareness of mental health issues. Beyond Blue (though they've had problems internally in the past) has an incredibly effective spokesman, Jeff Kennett. Kennett was one of the most successful (and highly controversial) Premiers of the state of Victoria. When he speaks, people in power tend to listen, and he has been very vocal.

* Just yesterday the Victorian Police Commissioner has finally admitted that mental health issues in the Victorian Police Service are at the top of his list in terms of matters that must be addressed. He actually admitted that the suicide rate is alarming, which 6 suicides of police officers this year, of which 2 happened in the last two weeks.

* With a mental health plan, you can get 10 free visits a year to a psychologist. This is extremely helpful, especially for those on lower incomes.

That said, we have a long way to go. Frankly, health services are not funded correctly. In NSW, Cumberland Hospital (which I was once admitted to overnight) is a degrading, disintegrating and appalling institution. It is one in which I will never allow myself to be admitted to ever again.

I am hopeful, however, that Australia as a nation is finally maturing about our understanding of mental health problems. It's honestly good news, and one which all sides of politics are really trying to address.