In the initial phase of his career, stand-up comedian and broadcaster, PJ Gallagher, aspired to be recognized as the individual who made others laugh. Now, he is often labelled as “the depression guy”, as articulated in his documentary “PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind” (aired on RTÉ One, 9.35pm, Monday). It documents his journey through mental health struggles as he navigates the path to fatherhood, which, despite being heart-warming is excessively ambitious.
In addition to being the protagonist of RTÉ’s Naked Camera and a morning show host at Radio Nova in Dublin, Gallagher proves to be an expressive advocate for mental health. He openly discusses his trials and tribulations, while simultaneously reassuring that he will provide support to his partner, Kelly Doolin and their twin children.
In his opinion, “Mental illness is the most eloquent deceiver a person will ever coexist with”. It drove Gallagher into a period of intense desolation, such that he confessed, “If it were up to me, I would have been dead two years ago”. In his darkest hour, instead of seeking conversation, he needed constant care, which is when he approached his confidante, Stefanie Preissner, a writer. Subsequent to joining her for a friendly meal, he admitted himself into the St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin for a three-month stay.
With Preissner’s authentic and warm support as encouragement, Gallagher decided to get evaluated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, characterized by symptoms like lack of attentiveness, impulsive behaviour and hyperactivity.
His family history is quite chaotic. His sister and he were adopted, and they grew up in a household where a section of their home was allocated to extensively mentally ill patients who were reintegrating into society. According to Gallagher, the family dynamics in their house were utterly extraordinary.
As the documentary kickstarts, Gallagher and Kelly are anticipating the arrival of their twins. During his younger years, he felt incapable of handling the responsibilities of parenthood and looked at family as a constraint. However, presently, he perceives it as a saving grace. Earlier, he was of the belief that “one can avert anxiety by ensuring no one depends on them”. Nevertheless, he has now reconsidered his stance, acknowledging that the twins’ arrival is amongst the best things that has happened to him.
PJ Gallagher’s documentary, Changing My Mind, is quite an eventful one. The film finds Gallagher engaging with a men’s aid group, partaking in river swimming activities with another club for men, and conversing with spokespeople from Pieta House, a charity working towards suicide prevention.
Towards the conclusion of the documentary, we are informed about the passing away of Gallagher’s mother and his ensuing struggle with bereavement. The film seems to presuppose that the audience is already conversant with Gallagher’s mental health chronicle, including his three-month stint at St Pat’s. Many watchers might be informed of this, but a brief summary of his earlier encounters with mental health would have been beneficial.
The documentary is emotive but somewhat cluttered. It could have been more impactful with a longer duration, or even improved to a full-length series. The subject of mental health deserves a broader discourse and it would be more informative to obtain additional insights from Gallagher on the matter.