Meredith’s KPHO/KTVK (Phoenix) brands themselves as Arizona’s Family.

Now they are losing a big member of that family.

Main Anchor Brandon Lee is leaving the station and the TV news business altogether.

Lee was last seen on the station back in late September and it appears that viewers that were waiting for his return and going to be disappointed.

His last day on air was Sept. 29.

“I am taking a giant leap of faith and will now focus all of my time and energy helping survivors of trauma heal through art therapy,” Lee posted to his social media. “I’ve created a program, Art Of Our Soul, that will help recovering addicts, sex trafficking victims, survivors of domestic violence & child abuse heal.”

Lee has been open about his own abuse and addictions, which he detailed in his memoir, “Mascara Boy.”

That he would eventually leave news isn't a surprise, Lee told The Arizona Republic. "I’ve always known in the back of my head that I would eventually want to write a new chapter in my life," he said. "I just didn’t know when that next chapter would be written."

In his statement, Lee credited art with helping him heal.

“Art has saved my soul in the darkest of times,” he wrote in his social media statement. “It is my life’s purpose to share that gift with those who are at their lowest. I know how dark it can be. I know how painful trauma can be. Now, it’s my turn to give back in a truly meaningful way.”

It helped again recently, Lee said.

"The pandemic impacted me like it’s impacted so many millions of people in our country," he said. "My mental health suffered through the pandemic. In January I hit my emotional rock bottom."

Asked if he would miss the rush of breaking news, Lee was adamant in his answer.

“The answer to that is no,” he said. “The adrenaline rush that I have gotten every single day this week, working side by side with recovering addicts who have a few weeks sober, to see them smile, to see them laugh, to see them dance to the music in my art therapy school — I have broken down crying several days this week. Tears of joy.