Ozzie Ireland AM reporter Brianna Parkins blasted the government for the lack of mental health facilities and opened up on her own battle with anxiety and junk food addiction.
The 28-year old Sydney native moved here a year ago to work on current affairs reports for Virgin Media One and first gained notoriety campaigning for abortion rights in Ireland.
The former Rose of Sydney and human rights activist took to the stage at the Dome in Kerry in 2016 calling for the 8th amendment to be changed.
The rising TV star told how she believes mental health facilities are not up to scratch in Ireland opening up on her own bouts of depression.
Brianna told the Irish Mirror: “I’m seeing a psychologist privately, I have my own mental health problems going on.
“I’m lucky enough to be on decent money and I’m able to look things up and chase things down and I still find it hard to get the help that I need.
“I really feel for people that don’t have those resources.”
The Virgin Media One presenter is using her Ireland Am reports to expose the lack of mental health provisions in Ireland.
She said: “I did an interview with a Limerick mother last month.
“Three weeks before her daughter committed suicide, she had made two attempts on the same day and was still let out of hospital.
“People are dying because they’re falling through the gaps.”
Brianna’s battle with anxiety has helped her conclude that early intervention is key.
She added: “I struggle with anxiety, I’ve had bouts of depression before.
“It’s important to get the help because you do find people going in a downward spiral.
“You don’t eat or sleep properly, you don’t see your friends and early intervention is really important.”
A self confessed junk food addict she explained how her anxiety affects her eating habits.
She said: “When I’m feeling low I reach for the comfort food and my nutrition is particularly bad anyway.
“I grew up in a working class family, where if you had food you ate it, we had no understanding of nutrition and as an adult my eating reflects that.
“I eat McDonalds twice a week, I’m much better than I was before, I could drink a litre of coke before and not even think about it.
“I’m addicted to junk food, I’m trying to get better but a nutritionist would be horrified by what I eat.
“I don’t know how much I weigh, but I’ve put on about a stone since I’ve come to Ireland from the spuds and pints which I love both.”
