Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed he was treated with medication for anxiety while serving in the Lodge. Morrison sharing the diagnosis during an extract of his forthcoming book.

Canberra

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has disclosed that he experienced anxiety during his tenure in the Lodge, for which he sought treatment through medication. This personal revelation comes from an excerpt of his upcoming faith-based book, "Plans For Your Good," which Morrison describes as a departure from the traditional political memoirs. Morrison aims to shed light on his struggles with mental health to foster open discussion and to de-stigmatize mental health issues in Australia.

In his book, Morrison touches upon the immense pressures that accompanied his role as Prime Minister, likening the stress levels to those experienced by Prime Minister John Curtin during World War II. His time in office was marked by significant challenges, including a global pandemic, catastrophic bushfires, controversies such as a rape allegation within Parliament House, and escalating tensions with China. Through sharing his personal battles, Morrison hopes to underscore that even individuals in the highest offices are not immune to mental health struggles.

Morrison's decision to share his story has coincided with recent developments in mental health governance in Australia, highlighted by the resignation of the Chair of Mental Health Australia who expressed disappointment in the current government's actions on mental health. The former Prime Minister believes that his administration made strides in mental health support, notably through suicide aftercare policies. Morrison, who is currently overseas, has expressed through social media his intention behind publicizing his experiences is to empower others facing similar issues and to advocate for the normalization and de-stigmatization of mental health conditions in the Australian community.



Scott Morrison took medication for anxiety whilst PM

It was a political passion of the former Prime Minister that we now know was personal. You have heard me say this ad nauseum, this is one of my great missions, can I tell you, of mental health in this country. In Scott Morrison's new faith-based book, Plans For Your Good. It's not a book that you'd expect from an ex-Prime Minister. He admits his anxiety became agonising and unbearable, and he sought medication for it. So many Australians suffer from this and I think it's important to have an open discussion about it. I don't think he was a great Prime Minister, but I just think it reminds all Australians if you need help, get it. No one's immune. Morrison says you'd have to go back as far as Prime Minister Curtin to find a time as stressful. You better f***ing do something. You haven't been a Prime Minister in the middle of the worst crisis since the Second World War. Pressure comes with the nation's highest office, not just because you appoint yourself as Minister of Five Portfolios. A pandemic, bushfires, the political fallout of a rape at Parliament House, and tensions with China during his tenure. You're put on the spot repeatedly, and the decisions you make have implications for millions of Australians. It's a stressful job. Currently overseas, Scott Morrison posted to social media, Sharing my story is intended to encourage others and normalise and de-stigmatise what is very common for many Australians. The Chair of Mental Health Australia quit this week, citing frustrations around a lack of action by the Albanese government. He says under Morrison, mental health support was more adequate. He set up the bilateral agreement. I think one of the greatest things he's ever done is the aftercare policy around suicide. Sarah Navin, 410 News First.

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