PJ Gallagher to star in new RTÉ documentary about mental health

Comedian PJ Gallagher is set to star in RTÉ’s PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind, a documentary exploring mental health in Ireland

The documentary is described as a celebration of Gallagher’s progress towards mental wellness and an attempt to extend that lifeline to those navigating their own mental health by partering with advocacy groups and talking to researchers and psychotherapists.

Speaking about this new documentary, Gallagher explains: “When I started out doing comedy 25 years ago, the last thing I thought I would be doing was talking about mental illness. In fact, I was trying to do the exact opposite.

“But my mission now is to have a conversation and try to get other people to have their own discussions on mental illness, and to know the difference between mental illness and your day-to-day mental health. I’ve learned that there is no right or wrong way to talk about it.”

“No one is going to tell you that just talking will make you better, but you have to start talking to find what will make you better. I hope this documentary might in some small way help people to do that.”

Following a lifesaving stay at St Patrick's Mental Health Services, Gallagher released his memoir Madhouse : The naked truth about my chaotic childhood, losing my mind and finding a place to call home in 2023.

In an interview with Hot Press, he opened up about the stigma surrounding his depression: ”For me,” he said, “the only thing actually worse than having the illness was people finding out. I was like, you have to lie, you have to lie, you have to lie. I was obsessed with the cover up.”

PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind is set to air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on May 20.