According to BeyondBlue, one in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime, and more than 3,000 people die by suicide each year. In New Zealand about 150,000 people at least consider the idea of suicide each year, and 680 succeed. 

Jeremy Higgins, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife and two daughters, is no stranger to these facts. He first started having depressive thoughts as a teenager, which continued on into his adulthood, though, he didn’t quite realise what he was experiencing at the time. Three years ago, Jeremy reached breaking point. Overwhelmed by the pressures of work, church, personal expectations, and a certain traumatic event which impacted his family, he found himself on a bridge. Thankfully, Jeremy got the help he needed, and recently founded an online community called The Bright Side of Depression to help others navigate this disease.

Jeremy is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys spear-fishing, surfing and hiking. He also loves being behind the camera and has dabbled in photography and videography. Jeremy believes in a holistic approach to wellness. You will find him in the gym as much as you might find him on a yoga mat practising mindfulness and meditation.

In this episode Jeremy shares what it’s like to suffer from depression, what tools and activities helped him on his journey of recovery, and how, after feeling spiritually disconnected, he is on his way to finding God again.