Just days before TV personality Charlotte Dawson took her own life early last year, she was on the phone to Creasey.

The Australia’s Next Top Model judge had become his friend and “role model” after they met backstage at one of his shows.

He was just 19 and, during the show, had done a fun bit mocking Dawson’s hit reality-TV show.

After that, she became an important sounding board for him.

“I was upset about something and I called her to chat,” the 25-year-old says.

“I was always a fan of her work growing up and thought she was brilliant and tough. I loved getting her advice.

“We spoke about me for 20 minutes (but) I never asked how she was. (I was being) selfish and not thinking about others.

“When I heard what happened … it was pretty shocking and upsetting. I never thought it would happen.”

Asking if the person you’re with is OK will be one of the themes Creasey wants to raise when he hosts the Stand Up! For Comedy night on Friday to open Mental Health Week in WA.

The young comic agreed to do the show to reduce the stigma surrounding issues such as depression and anxiety.

Creasey says the country’s “macho” culture often means there are Australians suffering from mental illness in silence.

“The perception is that it’s a weakness — but it’s absolutely not. I think the strongest people in the world are probably dealing with mental health issues,” he says.

“I have been dealing with (perceptions of) weakness all my life. I always get called camp and people relate that to weakness, which really annoys me.

“I’m absolutely camp, but I’m also super tough.

“I go on stage every night and talk to people armed with just a microphone.”

“(Charlotte) was very out and proud about what she was going through,” he says.

“I think producers started seeing her as a risk. But, I know from people that worked with her that she was such a talent and great to work with and would get the job done.”

Creasey has spent the past three months overseas after his profile at home was given a big boost thanks to hit reality-TV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

His overseas tour has included an appearance on A League of Their Own in the UK and solo shows in New York and Los Angeles.

Creasey says he “jumped at the chance” to come home to Perth for an important cause such as Mental Health Week.

“I know so many comedians dealing with mental health issues,” he says. “It has a big impact on the industry I work in so it’s something very close to my heart.”

Creasey says it’s disappointing some people still “turn their noses up” at those battling mental health issues. Another problem is people playing down these illnesses as just a “phase”.

Creasey’s advice for anyone struggling to cope is simple: “Talk to someone.

“I had never seen a therapist, but on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! we had a therapist we could speak to in the jungle.

“At first people were going just to get some breathing space and get o camera for 20 minutes. But I really enjoyed it and we’ve stayed in touch. Sometimes I will just send her an email if I’m dealing with something.”

Creasey will be joined on stage by several comics, including The Sunday Times TV Guide columnist Janelle Koenig, who is Creasey’s writing partner and director.

“Janelle is brilliant,” he says. “I was a big fan of hers growing up and then when she moved to Perth and started having kids I was like, ‘Great now is my time to strike’. I knew she had a bit of free time, so I got her working for me.”

Part proceeds from Stand Up! for Comedy will go to WA Association for Mental Health to reinvest back into community.

This article first appeared on ‘The Daily Telegraph’ on 29 September 2015.

A report released today by Entertainment Assist found the attempted suicide rate of those working within the industry was more than twice that of the general public, and levels of anxiety and depression were also elevated.

The research was an Australian first and conducted over 12 months in partnership with Victoria University who surveyed 2,904 people within the industry including those in the spotlight, like dancers, actors, musicians, comedians, and individuals behind the scenes such as roadies, techs, directors and producers.

Those whose job it is to entertain the general public considered the possibility of suicide up to seven times more than the general population and road crew members contemplated taking their own life almost nine times more than the general population.

When comparing results to that of the general population, it was found that anxiety levels were 10 times higher and depression was five times higher.

People who worked within the entertainment industry were also more likely to suffer from sleep disorders and insomnia.

To raise awareness for the mental health in the industry, special event Out From Under will see Aussie talent come together to discuss the issue at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne on Monday 21 September with Julia Zemiro hosting and artists and presenters iOTA, Daniel MacPherson, Dami Im, Debra Byrne, Silvie Paladino and Michael Cormick.

All funds raised from Out From Under go to training program Intermission, which Entertainment Assist set up in response to the recent findings to educate people about the issue.

We teamed up with mental health organisation Music Feedback in March to have a chat with Illy, The Bennies, Coin Banks and more about mental health, and here’s what they had to say.

This article first appeared on ‘The Music’ on 10 September 2015.