Power FM’s Josh Arthur opens up about recent mental health struggle

Ballarat Breakfast radio host Josh Arthur has urged his listeners not to bottle up their mental health struggles and anxieties, admitting he feels so much lighter after sharing his story with Headspace.

Arthur hosts Breakfast on Power FM alongside Maddie Jarosz. The 23-year-old and his 20-year-old partner, Eden, also have a baby together.

He conceded that being young parents can be a struggle, and on air this week, he said life and work had gotten on top of him.

“There were things going on at work that I didn’t want to be a part of. I didn’t want to deal with. There were things in life that I didn’t want to be a part of. I didn’t want to deal with. And life got so heavy. Got really heavy,” he said.

“I’m not saying I’m depressed. I’m not saying anything like that. I don’t know what I am. I haven’t been diagnosed. I don’t want to diagnose myself on air,” he added.

And he may not have wanted to diagnose himself, but he did realise he needed some outside assistance.

Arthur said he’s traditionally an overthinker, but he feels so much lighter after speaking to Headspace, which helps those aged 12 to 25 with mental health, physical health, drug and alcohol support, and educational and vocational support.

He said “life gets a lot for everyone”, but also offered some advice.

“When you have an idea, write it down. When you have these anxieties, these thoughts, write it down. Get it out,” he said, and urged people to go to Headspace if they need to.