BBC newsreader Huw Edwards has opened up about his struggles with depression.
The broadcaster discussed his mental health in a Welsh-language documentary for S4C to mark his 60th birthday, revealing he first experienced depression “around 2002”.
Huw explained: “People tend to think that if you are confident, then you never doubt yourself. But that’s not true.
“Like everyone that suffers with depression, you don’t get one bout of it. It comes and goes.”
Huw recalled going downhill “fairly quickly” after it first started.
“I couldn’t understand it. I didn’t want to speak to anybody,” he said. “Maybe it was partly due to the fact that I wasn’t happy in work. I couldn’t describe how overwhelming it was.
“I had a bit of a scare and I had never experienced that before.”
Huw revealed he would often have to give himself a pep-talk before going on air to read the news.
“Whenever I had to go live on air, I would literally have to tell myself, ‘Come on now, you’ll be OK now. You just have to do it,’” he said. “And I just had to push myself in a way.”
The journalist, who has fronted the BBC News At 10 for the last 18 years, said he has found boxing a useful way to manage his mental health, and also lost three stone as a result, describing the sport as a “peace of mind”.
“You are in some sort of a personal zone,” he said. “The whole thing is about relaxing even though it is fitness.”
In the documentary, Huw also discussed what he would do if he was to ever leave News At 10.
“When the time comes for me to quit the job – or for them to let me go – I don’t want to put my feet up and do nothing. I’ll be looking for other work, because keeping busy is one of life’s best secrets,” he said.
Help and support:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
- CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
- The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
- Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.