Zachary Leo speaks about his mental health struggles

May 7, 2024

Naarm/Melbourne-based funk-pop artist Zachary Leo has shared his latest single, On My Mind. Here he talks about his mental health:

“I became a different person almost overnight and struggled to talk to people I had known for years.”

Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that I am not a health professional and simply someone who suffers from mental health issues. This piece is based on my own experience and does not dictate how others may feel or to the same extent.

CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses mental health issues. If you are suffering from any issues discussed or need assistance, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

I was 15 years old when I first noticed that something felt a bit off in my daily life. I had always been quite an energetic, social and funny person to everyone I knew, but being this way was becoming more and more difficult by the day. When I was alone, everything was a challenge; getting out of bed was impossible, and I could not name one thing that I was looking forward to in the near future. I was having what I now know as panic attacks, frequently, always had butterflies in my stomach for no particular reason and I would zone out trying to evaluate how I was going to tackle every activity.

Everything was so intense that it reached a point of emotional numbness, and then it turned dark and blue. My brain would go through this cycle on a loop. I knew that feeling sad and stressed were normal feelings, but feeling them to the depth that I was, every single day, was not okay. The longer this continued, the more apparent it became that living this way was not sustainable.

I became a different person almost overnight and struggled to talk to people I had known for years. I didn’t go out with friends on the weekends and only left the house for school and footy which usually added to my stress. I was scared and lacked any strategies to help me when my thoughts took a much darker turn. I felt trapped and alone. But I can safely say that had I not reached out to someone at that moment, my life would have followed a dramatically different script. Almost ten years later, I am still battling the very same things I did when I was 15, but now with strategies and resources to help me manage these burdens and move on with my life.

The world has a mental health crisis on its hands, and it is affecting more and more young people by the day. We are exposed to so much, and often, life can be incredibly hard to navigate. It is important to acknowledge that our struggles are valid and relative to us and our lives, but we don’t need to fight these things on our own. Speaking up is always the hardest hurdle, but also the most powerful one. All it takes is telling someone you’re not okay. This can be a friend, family member, or even an external support system like Lifeline, but it is an important stepping stone to seeking professional help. It took me almost a year of battling on my own before I built the courage to tell a family member by text that “I am not okay, and I don’t know what to do”, and while I still have days where I don’t want to talk and burden the people around me, I am constantly reminded that there are people out there who can help and that things can get better, even when it seems like they can’t.

But the onus isn’t just on those struggling but also on the people around them who may know something isn’t right. If you have a friend, family member, or work colleague who doesn’t seem themselves or who you think may be struggling, invite them out for a coffee, give them a call, go for a walk and chat, and do your part to check in on them. These things don’t have to be formal; they should simply be a chance to check in and ask if someone is doing okay. One conversation can make all the difference.

Speaking up about my mental health struggles was the best and bravest decision I ever made, and I encourage those who are also struggling to do the same. I know how scary and daunting it can be and the loneliness and darkness that can consume you, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel for me, and I know that fate can await you, too. There are people and services out there who can help you. Just remember, the world is a much better place with you.