Andrew Robb

Politician
 

Andrew Robb was born in 1951 and grew up as one of nine children on a dairy farm in Epping, just north of Melbourne (actually, it is now a suburb and not a cow in sight!).
 

When he was 13yo, Andrew moved with his family to Reservoir and attended Parade Christian Brothers College.    He later gained a Diploma of Agricultural Science from Dookie Agricultural College and an Honours Degree in Economics from La Trobe University.
 

Andrew is married to Maureen and they have 3 children, Tom, Joe and Pip.
 

In the article below, Andrew tells how he first recalls experiencing the symptoms of depression when he was around 12 years old, however it was many years before he realised that there could actually be a reason, a medical condition involved. 
 

After a negative experience with a GP who wasn't familiar with or trained in treating depression, it wasn't until 2009 that Andrew finally received treatment.   In this article Rob shares the difference that having his illness effectively treated has made in his life.
 

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Finding light in the gloom: Robb tells of battle with depression
The Age
June 30, 2010

 

Andrew Robb talks about his battle with depression at the announcement of the Liberal Party's policy on mental health.
 

For the past four months, Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb has woken up without the cloud of depression that haunted him for decades.
 

After six months of experimentation with different types of medication, Mr Robb found an effective treatment for the illness he's struggled with since he was 12.
 

For years, Mr Robb would stop three or four times on his way to work, get out of his car and look at the sun to make himself sneeze.   He did so to release endorphins, the body's natural happy drug, to stave off the cloud hanging over him every morning.
 

Mr Robb spoke of his struggle with his mental illness today at the launch of the Liberal Party's mental health policy in the lead-up to the federal election.   Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said a coalition government would commit $1.5 billion for 800 additional mental health beds and to expand youth mental health services.
 

Mr Robb said he first recalled suffering depressive symptoms as a 12-year-old, but it took him decades to acknowledge he may be suffering from a mental illness and to seek help.
 

"I'd drive to work for years …and I would stop the car three or four times and look at the sun to make myself sneeze, because that released endorphins," Mr Robb said.
 

"I knew it made me feel better, but I still wouldn't confront the fact that there was some underlying condition."
 

Mr Robb said when his symptoms worsened, he visited a GP who told him medication wasn't the answer.  He left the consulting room thinking "wake up to yourself, this is something I've just got to live with".
 

Eventually, he rang former Victorian premier and founder of depression initiative beyondblue, Jeff Kennett, who put him in touch with a mental health specialist.
 

Last September, Mr Robb announced he would be taking three months' leave to undergo treatment for depression.
 

"After six months of experimentation with different types of medication, I've found a treatment which has meant that…I've had mornings every day for 14 weeks which are better than I've ever had in my life," he said.
 

"The bottom line is if people confront their mental health condition you can manage or overcome it, you can get on with life.   Here I am in a high-pressure job, feeling better than I ever have because I've finally confronted this condition."

 

***This article is on The Age website at: http://www.theage.com.au/national/finding-light-in-the-gloom-robb-tells-of-battle-with-depression-20100630-zlpq.html

Andrew Robb's own website is at:  http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/ 

 

Reviewed January 2011