As Crosbie approaches 70 he is retiring from a 40-year career as a Landscape Architect.
He describes himself as a ‘late bloomer’ in his career and his life in general, being both delighted and a little surprised at how far he has come.
Reflecting on his earlier years, he never imagined he would reach the stability of mental well-being and contentment that he enjoys today, particularly given his experience with depression and anxiety in his thirties.
Crosbie’s story begins in his mid-thirties, a time when his mental health was deteriorating, and he knew he needed help. He sought professional treatment, which became the first and most important step in his steady recovery.
Two years of therapy helped him regain hope, and from there, he focused on improving not just his mental health but his overall well-being. He began working towards thriving, rather than just being ‘okay’.
Physical fitness had always been important to Crosbie, with activities like sailing, bike riding, and swimming being part of his routine. After his initial recovery through professional treatment, he expanded his focus to practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and visualisation, which were crucial components in regaining his sense of real joy in his life. He has incorporated these techniques into his daily routine particularly using the Headspace app.
Crosbie’s recovery was to face a major challenge when in 2014 his older sister Jasmine took her life, aged 61. Sadly, his father had also taken his life when Jasmine, he and his younger brother Kevin were all under eight years of age. Crosbie was deeply gratified to find that his grief for his much-loved sister did not affect his mental stability.
Having recovered from his own mental health challenges, Crosbie felt a deep impulse to honour his sister’s and father's lives by helping others who were struggling with depression and anxiety.
“It took next to no time to realise that the Beyond Blue Speakers Program was the ideal way in which I could bring my love of stories and storytelling to best effect for others who were going through what I’d been through; and give them cause for hope.”
“Little did I realise that the extraordinary team at Beyond Blue would do as much for me and my sense of purpose as anything I might do for others. Ten years on as a Speaker and I consider this one of my most important activities in an already busy and fulfilling life.”
While a regular public speaker in a professional role, Crosbie experiences a far greater audience connection in his talks for Beyond Blue. When he shares his personal story, he feels that he has the audience’s full attention. He describes the experience as being in a "safe zone," where judgment is suspended, and the audience offers nothing but support and gratitude.
A pivotal moment in Crosbie's early involvement with Beyond Blue came shortly after his grief for Jasmine started to lift, when Kate from Beyond Blue helped him reframe his perspective on her life and her extraordinary courage. That discussion then spurred Crosbie to consider the one message he wanted his talks to leave behind.
That message is mental health should be treated with the same priority as physical health. Just as you would visit your GP if you were physically unwell, seeking professional help for mental health is just as vital. He hopes that this message will inspire others to take the first step toward better mental health.
After a decade of sharing his story, Crosbie’s focus in retelling his experiences is clear: mental health is something everyone should care about, and help is always available. For those struggling, like he once did, there is always hope. His journey as a "Late Bloomer" has been challenging, but in the end, it has been incredibly rewarding.
“So, here’s to all of us Late Bloomers in life. It’s been so worth the journey!”
