In this episode of Stories of Us, Brendan Cullen shares his upbringing on a sheep station in regional Australia with host Sarah Grynberg.

Growing up on Mount Westwood near Broken Hill, Brendan fondly recalls carefree days exploring the vast outdoors with his younger brother.

He describes the daily routines of farm life, including stock work and maintenance tasks on the expansive 150,000-acre property he currently works on.

Brendan candidly discusses the challenges of rural isolation and the toll it took on his mental health, leading to a struggle with depression exacerbated by self-medication with alcohol. However, through self-awareness and seeking professional help, Brendan found the courage to confront his issues and adopt healthier coping mechanisms.

He emphasizes the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and seeking support when needed. Brendan's journey highlights the resilience and strength found in rural communities, even in the face of adversity like droughts, which he also discusses.

If anything in this podcast has brought up difficult feelings please reach out to someone you trust for support alternatively you can call LifeLine anytime at 13 11 14 for assistance.

If you would like to hear about another story of resilience, check out our episode with former NRL player Alex McKinnon who faced a life changing injury on the field. You can find his episode here… https://listnr.com/podcasts/stories-of-us/episodes/alex-mckinnon-forgives-the-player-who-made-him-par?utm_source=listnr&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=internal_share&utm_content=f7657954-164a-4388-b6ef-e53c17109df6%3Bb918973f-1345-4747-9bfa-b0ba009b195e

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