Spence and Kerrie have had a roller-coaster of a time on The Block but following their epic win, receiving perfect 10s from all three judges – a first for the season – they are on cloud nine.
“We weren’t expecting the perfect score, but we knew we had designed and constructed a beautiful kitchen that we would love in our new house,” Spence tells New Idea. “The kitchen was the one room we had to make time for. We spent around six hours in total on our design, because as they say, kitchens sell apartments!”
And fans are thrilled to see the couple succeeding, particularly after Spence’s brave decision to go public with his battle with depression.
“The problem with depression is that some people don’t even realise they have it. I had it for years before I was told I did,” he reveals. “Depression can be debilitating and can ruin so many lives, it’s not curable but it can be managed. Talking about your feelings is the first step, it will make you feel so much better.”
And knowing just how common it is, Spence has advice for those struggling. “Depression will affect everyone in different ways,” he says.
“If you think there’s something not quite right about yourself, it’s so easy to start the conversation with a friend or someone you know. There’s a very high chance that person will know somebody in the same boat, if not themselves – it’s so common. One easy thing I find is talking to a psychologist; there’s no shame in doing that. They are trained to help with this problem. It’s not an instant fix but you will find how much better you feel after you start talking.”
He also credits his partner for having his back.
“Kerrie was unbelievably supportive and defensive of me when I was struggling to function,” Spence admits.
As for life after The Block, the prestige builder is looking forward to what might be next for him and Kerrie.
“We never went on the show with plans of getting anything out of it, but it would be nice to do a TV show based around architecture and building. A Grand Designs meets renovation type of show with no drama!”
For help and support relating to suicide, visit lifeline.org.au or call 131114.
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