Australian author Holden Sheppard is the latest guest on “Outside In,” Support Act’s mental health and wellbeing podcast, Variety Australia can exclusively reveal.
In the episode, the acclaimed writer, who penned “Invisible Boys,” “The Brink” and “King of Dirt,” shared what it was like to realise he was gay in his early teens in a “bloke-y” environment, the years he spent trying to suppress it and the mental health challenges that followed.
“I didn’t really want to be gay, and that led to some very dark times… I eventually reached a crisis point and reached out to a crisis service. I think that fundamentally helped me stay afloat and decide I wanted to keep living,” he said.
In the episode, Sheppard recalled growing up in the small WA country town Spalding, where AFL reigned supreme, Catholicism shaped the community and no one talked about mental health.
He also reflected on the difficulties of promotional touring.
“The tour was 60 days straight, and when it ended I slept for 17 hours. It’s a lot for an introverted creative to be in promo mode every day; you smile, promote, promote, promote, but you don’t tell people you’re having a hard time. That’s why having people reach out can mean the world,” he explained.
Sheppard uses his ‘Outside In’ appearance to urge people to not be afraid to seek out help.
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“You don’t have to be in full crisis to reach out. Those services are there for when you can see yourself heading down a bad road. Ten minutes on the phone with someone can get you through a hump of anxiety or panic, and then you’re okay,” he said.
By speaking so openly, Sheppard hopes to help others, especially men in rural Australian communities, feel less alone and reach out before things reach crisis point.
He also highlighted the importance of the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline during the episode, which is now available to all creatives, not just those in the music industry.
Sheppard’s award-winning novel “Invisible Boys” premiered on Stan earlier this year.
The Stan Original series, filmed in Perth and Geraldton, was described as “an emotional tale of individuality and belonging. Written for screen by a team of queer writers, the series is raw and authentic, depicting facets of gay sexuality often overlooked.”
“Set against the backdrop of the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, the series explores the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal town of Geraldton, Western Australia after one of them is outed on social media following an encounter with a married man. ” a statement issued by Stan read.
“As they form a tight-knit friendship, the boys find solace and support in one another, exploring their desires and identities in a world that often renders them invisible.”