Carrie Bickmore reveals mental health struggle, taking antidepressants ‘for first time’ in emotional admission

Max Corstorphan
The Nightly
Radio host Carrie Bickmore has made a deeply personal admission about her mental health.
Radio host Carrie Bickmore has made a deeply personal admission about her mental health. Credit: The Nightly/Instagram

Radio host Carrie Bickmore has made a deeply emotional admission to listeners of her national HIT radio show, revealing she is taking antidepressants for the first time in her life, as she is having “a really tough time”.

The beloved radio host opened up about her mental health, revealing she feels she just has “sad days all the time”.

“I shared a picture to my Instagram on Friday that I didn’t really think much of when I shared it, and I didn’t realise how many people themselves would benefit from seeing it,” she told her co-host Tommy Little.

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Bickmore said she was going through her photos on her phone when she saw a photo during a mental struggle.

“I came across a photo that I had sent my friend, who had asked me a few months ago ‘was I having a good day or a bad day?’ because she knew I was having a really tough time,” Bickmore said.

“I was on the floor, leaning against the wall on the carpet, and I was in the middle of crying.

“I took a photo, sent it back and said not a good one. “

Bickmore decided to post the photo, explaining that although she wouldn’t usually post on sad days as she was “just trying to get through the day”, she felt it was important to share her struggle.

“I think your Instagram can not, by choice, or by deliberate actions, just become a bit of a show reel of all the happy stuff that’s going on in your life,” she aid.

“I’m not going to say I’ve got a tough life or a hard life, but I literally just have sad days all the time.”

The radio host revealed she finds “lots of things that I’m struggling with in my personal life”.

“I have my whole life. I am in a spot where I am finding stuff hard at the moment, and I deal with things in different ways.”

Bickmore said she was seeing a psychologist, acknowledging that some Australians were currently struggling to get in with a professional due to wait times, and said she was trying to exercise, even though “when you’re feeling crap it is really hard”.

“I have started taking antidepressants for the first time in my entire life and, not that I had anything against them, I just had been able to manage before, but it got to the point where I realised I can’t do it on my own anymore and I need a helping hand,” she said.

Bickmore revealed it had made a “massive difference” for her, but acknowledged “different things work for different people”.

“Still, some days just suck,” she said.

“The reaction I had to that picture reminded me that days suck for a lot of people.

“My DMs have been full of people ranging from just a bad day at work, a fight with a partner, all the way to tragic things.

“It’s incredible perspective when you share something like that.

“It’s heartbreaking but a reminder you are not alone. Everyone has their stuff.“

Fans were quick to applaud the radio host for her honest admission.

“As a mental health advocate, I am so glad the world has an amazing role model like you raising awareness for mental health. Please never stop,” one person wrote.

“Your honesty and being open to others is so very brave,” wrote another.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.

Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.

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