The space to think
Docuseries Space 22 follows seven Aussies as they take part in an experiment that tests the impact of art and creativity on mental health. Siobhan Duck speaks with host Natalie Bassingthwaighte about the groundbreaking program and the importance of reaching out for help
She’s been nominated for a Gold Logie. Had numerous hit singles as both a solo artist and frontwoman of Rogue Traders. And strutted her stuff on stage in musicals such as Rent, Grease and Chicago.
But it is only this year that
Natalie Bassingthwaighte felt as though she truly found her purpose – as host of Space 22.
The new six-part ABC documentary charts the effects of creativity on health and wellbeing; following a group of adults who have experienced mental health issues as they undertake a variety of art and music programs.
For Bassingthwaighte, who has been open about her own mental health struggles, Space 22 struck a very powerful chord from the moment she first heard the concept.
“I just knew that I needed to be in the show,” she reflects.
“I had an interview with [the producers] and I was pitching so hard [for the job]. It was hilarious. I said to them, and I never do this, but: ‘I think this is my role’.
“Partly because I loved that they were scientifically trying to prove art can play a role in healing or helping with our mental health. And also,
I felt like what I’d been through in the past 20 years [with both her career in the creative arts space and her own health issues] that I could definitely use some of my knowledge in that area.
“It ended up becoming something that was honestly probably one of the best things
I’ve ever done.”
While Bassingthwaighte used to burn the candle at both ends – juggling her children’s clothing line Chi Khi, performing live with her band, or on stage and filming TV series such as So You Think
You Can Dance, Neighbours,
The Wrong Girl and Brock – more recently, she’s become very selective about what jobs she takes on.
That’s because, a little over two years ago, Bassingthwaighte made the decision to shift from Melbourne to Byron Bay and to take a step back from her career for the sake of her mental health.
The move came after the actress suffered a debilitating breakdown, which she now believes was triggered by the unresolved grief of losing both her manager and a close friend in quick succession.
“When my manager passed, I didn’t feel good enough,” she says.
“I was like: ‘Can I sing? Can I dance? Can I act? I don’t think I can do any of these things’. I just lost all confidence in my ability. Even though I’d done it for 20 years.”
At her lowest point, Bassingthwaighte felt so consumed by self-doubt that she almost couldn’t breathe or speak for six long weeks.
“I was like I was just nervous that I couldn’t face anyone ever again,” she explains.
“I didn’t leave my bed because I didn’t want to leave the house because what if people would look at me? And I didn’t feel like myself.
“I felt like I was a completely different person. And it had happened to me a couple of times throughout my last 25 years, but it has been a while since it was that intense. It was terrifying.”
Medication, meditation and finding a better work-life balance have helped Bassingthwaighte get back on an even keel. Looking back now, she can see that she had been struggling under the demands of her career for a long time before she hit breaking point.
Today, she believes that those dark days ultimately proved to be a positive turning point in her life.
“One of my friends said: ‘You have to break down to break through’. I love that,” she says.
“Because I could feel it for like six months before in my body. I was having panic attacks. I was so anxious. But I was like: ‘No, I’m just going to keep going.”
While Bassingthwaighte has struggled with her mental health – on and off – for most of her adult life, it’s only in recent years that she has been comfortable talking about it.
“I was worried that people would judge me,” she says.
“I was worried that I would be unemployed. I was worried that people would think I was crazy. So, there was a lot of fear around it.”
While there is still a long way to go towards destigmatising mental health, Bassingthwaighte believes attitudes are improving. And that’s thanks, in part, to shows like Space 22 that shine a light on real people’s experiences, and which are an antidote to unobtainable standards of perfection being peddled on Instagram.
“I don’t actually feel scared about talking about it at all anymore,” she says of her own challenges.
“And I’m proud of that. To be honest, I think I started getting over the social media ‘I’m perfect’ and ‘everything’s perfect’ and ‘nothing’s wrong with me’ mentality.
“I was like: ‘What the hell is this? This is not good for anyone’. I think that allowed me to flick the switch and go, ‘We really need to start talking about what life is really about’. We need to start sharing our experiences and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable so people know that it’s OK to be vulnerable and it’s OK for people to know that if you’re not OK, you can reach out and you can find someone that you’re not alone.”
And that is certainly what
Space 22 does. Bassingthwaighte says spending time with the participants – watching them benefit not just from the arts programs offered but from sharing their stories with each other – was enriching and inspiring. And she believes viewers will also gain from watching what unfolds over the experiment.
“It’s not like it was all roses and it wasn’t all happy or whatever, there were struggles throughout the experiment,” she says.
“But I could personally see – from the beginning when they walked in, to the end of it – that behind their eyes had changed. It was like a light had lifted. It was just so incredibly beautiful to watch.”
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