Depression can be one of the most debilitating of mental illnesses and the impact it can have has been highlighted this month by the revelation that a famous former England cricketer took his own life after battling the condition for years.
The family of Graham Thorpe, who was 55, went public on his condition with help from Thorpe’s former team-mate and now Times cricket correspondent, Michael Atherton. They revealed that a hospital stay in intensive care in 2022 was caused not by a natural illness but by a previous suicide attempt.
His widow Amanda said: “He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him and we are devastated that he acted on that.”
All this had happened even though he had a settled and stable marriage and family life, contrary to the off-field issues he had dealt with during his playing days.
This goes to show that career success and even a strong, stable family situation do not provide immunity to depression and this tragedy highlights why sufferers would be wise to see a depression therapist as soon as possible.
There is a wealth of research to show that seeking help early with depression can make a major difference to outcomes, not just in terms of suicide prevention, but in preventing other consequences such as relationship breakdown, self-harm, worsened physical health and underperformance at work.
While it is important for those clinically depressed to get a diagnosis and medication can help, therapy may also be very important in helping people understand they are not alone. It can show how to respond to negative thoughts, not least by recognising when they are untrue and telling a negative story that bears no resemblance to reality.
Graham Thorpe’s family is considering starting a charity to raise awareness about depression. But if you are a sufferer, you may find seeking counselling now means you will avoid the kind of suffering and darkness he endured towards the tragic end of his life.