Jimmy Barnes encourages people with mental health issues to seek help

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‘Therapy is the most courageous thing I’ve ever done’: Jimmy Barnes draws on his personal experience as he encourages people with mental health issues to seek help

By Jabeen Waheed For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Jimmy Barnes has encouraged his fans to seek help if they are struggling with mental health issues. 

Speaking to his fans during the live Instagram launch of his third book Killing Time from his home in New South Wales, the Cold Chisel rocker explained: ‘I am a huge believer in therapy, I am a huge believer in being open’.

The 64-year-old revealed that he sought therapy for his past demons to break the cycle of domestic violence and alcohol addiction which has long plagued his family. 

‘It was the most courageous thing I ever did’: Jimmy Barnes has encouraged his fans to seek help if they are struggling with mental health issues

Jimmy revealed: ‘The most courageous thing I ever did was to say help. The day I did that was when things started to get better.’

He added: ‘When you’re in the thick of it, you can’t really see the way out. I am a work in progress; I haven’t reached any plateau, it’s a big uphill climb.’

Meanwhile, an excerpt in his new book Killing Time revealed how going Full Monty in front of Nicole Kidman for a charity event in 1998 left him feeling ‘shameful’.

The rock legend said: ‘I went home and washed. I felt I would never be able to wash away the shame.’

'Things star to get better': Speaking to his fans during the live Instagram launch of his third book Killing Time from his home in New South Wales, the Cold Chisel rocker explained: 'I am a huge believer in therapy, I am a huge believer in being open' [Pictured in 1994]

‘Things star to get better’: Speaking to his fans during the live Instagram launch of his third book Killing Time from his home in New South Wales, the Cold Chisel rocker explained: ‘I am a huge believer in therapy, I am a huge believer in being open’ [Pictured in 1994] 

‘Eventually I drank and snorted enough not to care anymore and one day I re-emerged…’ he continued.

Jimmy admitted he drunkenly agreed to star in the show after answering actress Rachel Ward’s phone call drunk following an afterparty at his studio.

He was then tasked to bare all alongside Bryan Brown, Hugo Weaving and Angry Anderson while some of Australia’s biggest stars and media watched on.

Doing his bit: The 64-year-old revealed that he sought therapy for his past demons to break the cycle of domestic violence and alcohol addiction which has long plagued his family.

Doing his bit: The 64-year-old revealed that he sought therapy for his past demons to break the cycle of domestic violence and alcohol addiction which has long plagued his family.

With many high-profile celebrities in attendance, Jimmy recalled: ‘And, oh my God, Nicole Kidman was in the front row. So embarrassing!’

It comes just weeks after the singer revealed that he underwent cosmetic surgery to change a feature he was always self-conscious about.

The rock legend revealed he had his ears pinned back – a procedure called otoplasty – on his 40th birthday in 1994.

Jimmy revealed: 'The most courageous thing I ever did was to say help. When you're in the thick of it, you can't really see the way out. I am a work in progress; I haven't reached any plateau, it's a big uphill climb'

Jimmy revealed: ‘The most courageous thing I ever did was to say help. When you’re in the thick of it, you can’t really see the way out. I am a work in progress; I haven’t reached any plateau, it’s a big uphill climb’