Troubled three-time Mr Universe winner Calum von Moger has spoken openly about his mental health battles since his younger brother tragically took his own life a year ago.
Edward von Moger, 28, was filmed in August 2022 yelling about Covid vaccines at a couple through his car window on the side of a Victorian road.
The confrontation video showed a shirtless von Moger hitting the couple’s driver’s side window and rearview mirror with a boomerang before launching into an expletive-filled rant about Covid-19 vaccines.
In March 2023, Edward mysteriously disappeared and was later found dead.
At the same time people were searching for Edward, Calum was appearing at the prestigious 2023 Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition in Ohio.
Famed bodybuilder Calum von Moger has spoken openly about his mental health struggles since his younger brother tragically took his own life a year ago.
Edward von Moger (pictured left with his brother) tragically took his own life a year ago
He said it was one of the “most difficult times of his life” and then quickly returned to Australia.
“Everyone is going through a little bit of mental anxiety, the unknown and all that kind of stuff,” von Moger told the podcast. The Kris Fade Show.
“So I set out to come back to Australia and I knew my little brother, who I was very close to, was going through some things.
‘And I’m going to get right into it, but basically, last year, he took his own life. He died.’
Von Moger, who admits to his own struggle with drug addiction, revealed that he has also thought about taking his own life.
‘I almost do it. I almost put a bullet in my head. I came pretty close a couple of times,” she said.
—I had been convincing myself of that for quite some time. I was like planning it. I thought, “I’ve had enough.” I had been mentally preparing myself to do it.
“What got me is that I think about my brother so intensely, thinking that he is alone in this black abyss, and I thought, I would rather change this world to be with him, I don’t want him to be alone.
‘I kept telling everyone that I was fine, that I wasn’t thinking about it. Then I called some people and they managed to convince me not to do it.
The Australian bodybuilder (pictured with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who he played in the 2018 film Bigger) admits he overcame his own suicidal thoughts.
Von Monger (pictured) posted a tribute to Ed saying not a day goes by that I don’t think about him since he died.
Von Monger posted a heartfelt tribute online to her brother Ed on the anniversary of his death last week.
‘I miss him a lot. Rest in paradise Ed,” she wrote.
‘Today marks one year since I lost my younger brother Eddie.
‘There hasn’t been a day that I haven’t thought about him or what he could be doing if he were still here.
“Being in a world without him has been my hardest battle so far, it hasn’t been easy and to be brutally honest, there have been many times I wanted to give up and join him.
‘Dealing with so many emotions at once that I had never had to handle before was difficult, I didn’t understand it. I felt deep sadness, depression, anger, anxiety, remorse, guilt, fear, and sometimes complete hopelessness.
‘Some days I would walk for hours and just look at the sky, other days I would just cry. Most of the time she wanted to be alone and she didn’t want to talk to anyone. It was difficult.’
Von Monger said talking about mental health issues is important and anyone who reads her words should ask for help if they need it.
‘Talking about it helps and I think the key to moving forward is to be open and honest about what our feelings are telling us and not be afraid to talk about them.
‘If you’re going through a rough patch, it’s okay to ask for help. Or if you know someone who is, check in with them and see how they’re doing and ask if they’re okay. And if not, ask them if they want to talk about it.
If you need help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.