GET HELP: Richard Madigan has successfully dealt with depression and is encouraging people, particularly men, to seek help.
RICHARD Madigan knows only too well how it feels to reach rock bottom when he recognised he was suffering from depression.
So yesterday, the owner of the Gloria Jean’s franchise was keen to play an important role in telling people in Orange its okay to seek help.
“Just talk to someone - a family member or a friend and start that journey to getting well again,” Mr Madigan.
Mr Madigan said particularly in rural areas, he feels men resist seeking professional help.
“They may feel or have been told to ‘man up’ and get on with it, but it isn’t that easy,” he said.
He said generational attitudes can contribute to people failing to recognise they need help.
“And I think those attitudes are more prevalent in the rural areas,” he said.
However, Mr Maddigan said the pressures of everyday living in his experience can contribute to highly successful business and professional people being affected by depression.
However, he believed in the last five years there had been real progress in the community recognising feeling depressed was a valid illness.
“The first step is to recognise you have a problem,” he said.
“I was able to do that but some people can’t and this is where family and friends can play their part.”
“It’s like breaking through a barrier,” he said.
He said the fast pace of life put pressure on people in their business, as they struggle to stay viable.
“It is very hard to when you are dealing with financial pressures,” he said.
He paid tribute to yesterday’s high visibility campaign in Post Office Lane.
“This is a really clever campaign and I can see here today people are stopping and asking what it is all about,” he said.
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression or a mental illness seek help from your general practitioner or call the 24-hour Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 where you will be directed to appropriate care.