Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has revealed he had depression and even contemplated death after being ousted for leaving his wife and having a baby with his former staffer
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has revealed he had depression and even contemplated death amid the scandal of having a baby with his former staffer and leaving his wife of 24 years.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald talking about the release of his new book, Mr Joyce, 51, compared his mental health to a ‘crazed cattle dog.’
‘Winston Churchill had his black dog. Mine was a half-crazed cattle dog, biting everything that came near the yard,’ he penned in his autobiography, Weatherboard and Iron.
After being ousted for starting a relationship with his previous media adviser and now partner Vikki Campion, Mr Joyce admitted he had contemplated dying.
‘I have hurt so many that I want to go without anybody knowing,’ he told the Herald.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald talking about the release of his new book, Mr Joyce compared his mental health to a ‘crazed cattle dog.’ (Pictured) Vikki Campion, Barnaby Joyce and their baby son Sebastian
Mr Joyce said he didn’t feel like the same person at home and in Canberra.
He told the Herald he was ‘wandering and getting closer to other women’ before he met Ms Campion.
Mr Joyce admitted that many of his friends were concerned of his mental health when he was in the spotlight over the pregnancy of Ms Campion.
Former senator Jacqui Lambie previously came out saying she had fears for Mr Joyce’s health when she talked to Melbourne radio station 3AW in May.
Ms Lambie said she was concerned for the health of the former deputy PM, and friend, when questions were raised over the paternity of Ms Campion’s child.
The 51-year-old told the Herald it was only when he was diagnosed with depression that he actively wanted to get structure back in his life.

The 51-year-old told the Herald it was only when he was diagnosed with depression that he actively wanted to get structure back in his life
Yet the birth of his son Sebastian in April has helped him get back on track.
The former deputy PM said he actually wrote most of his book before the scandal in his exclusive interview with the Herald.
Mr Joyce said he wrote the book with the intention of drawing attention to the hardships of those living in regional Australia.
He also wanted to stand up and challenge the stereotypes of those living in the heartland as being labelled as ‘One Nation supporters.’
‘They’re not Pauline Hanson’s One nation, they’re not Howard’s battlers and they’re not Abbott’s tradies,’ he told the Herald.
The former deputy PM and Ms Campion spoke to Seven Network’s Sunday Night program in May for a paid $150,000 interview.

Barnaby Joyce and his ex wife of 24 years Natalie Joyce (pictured) at federal parliament’s Mid Winter Ball in June last year, the month before the pair went to Europe together
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