Tales from a Bruised Mind

Zak Adkins is a writer, mental health advocate and former Australian motoring journalist based in Sydney, Australia.

Since completing his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, he has gained valuable experience in the automotive media sphere with the likes of Chasing Cars, CarExpert, RACQ, Wheels and Motor Magazines and more.

Now working in automotive PR, Zak’s passion for cars and the industry is forever continuing.

As much as he holds a very clear passion for the automotive landscape, he is just as driven and passionate about mental health and wellbeing, and helping others with his lived experience.

He is currently a mental health ambassador for the charity Drive Against Depression.

A bit of Zak’s Story

Zak was born in Brisbane, Queensland in 1998. He spent his childhood loving tractors, planes and cars, and realised at a pretty young age that he wanted to pursue a career in automotive journalism. Writing came easy, so why not combine the two loves together?

Graduating in 2018 with a Bachelor of Journalism from the Queensland University of Technology, Zak thought his life was largely in order and full of success.

He was heartbroken and deeply shattered in March 2019 when he first experienced an episode of psychosis, a moment that would turn out to be a big turning point in his life and his development as a young adult.

Since 2019, Zak has had four hospital admissions for severe mental health issues, and currently lives with bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

It certainly hasn’t been an easy road, but Zak has continued to be strong, seek help when needed and still have successes in his career in the automotive media industry.

Zak’s aim with this blog is to help make conversations surrounding mental health feel completely normal and accepted, and for Zak to provide an accurate depiction of what it’s like living with severe mental health challenges.