Paul Merson opens up on his mental health struggles | The Debate 

20 odd years ago my elder brother was dying of untreatable lung disease and at the same time I was going through a messy divorce (all my own fault). As a result of the divorce, I started suffering from anxiety attacks and depression and was very close to ending the pain. It was my wonderful brother who reached out to me and he would ring me up every day and ask me how I was coping! I can never repay his kindness, compassion and Love as he died a few months later, but I will never forget him........ I LOVE You, Bro!

“You are good enough and there are people out their who will believe in you” that hit me hard

Ive suffered from depression since i was very young. I find it very hard to open up. I bottle up everything. Very brave of Merse to openly talk about his struggles.

Never heard Merson speak like this before less trying to a clown and genuinely helping people and speaking sense

This hits incredibly close to home. I never picked up calls, answered texts, etc because of my extreme anxiety (still struggle with it today), but finally had a talk with my friend about it recently for a good hour and since then, life is so much better. PLEASE talk to someone as hard as it may seem (it was the hardest thing in the world for me), it WILL make you feel a million times better

Some of the most courageous people on this planet suffer anxiety depression and other mental illness. Weakness... Nah not in a million years.

Having a mental health issue is not weakness, not talking about it is. If you have an issue talk to someone.

Jamie O’Hara seems like a great bloke. The kind of guy you want to be mates with

Good for sky to be discussing other important issues away from the football. Like Paul said, this is real life, and there should be more done to tackle mental health.

Gary Speed might have with us still, if he’d spoken about it. Speak up people!!! Don’t suffer in silence.

Not only a top pundit but a great man....well done Paul Merson for talking about this 👏🏻

Big ups Paul Merson 👍

And then they probably go to a break followed by a BET365 advert 🙄

What a guy Paul Merson is. I love his honesty.

Huge respect for all who go out of their way to help others! This is some of the best work any broadcast media can do. Kudos!

Total respect to Paul Merson for highlighting his issues, keep strong Paul there will always be people who love you.

Very true when Merse said how long have I had it before realising I had depression u don’t think it depression till it got hold respect to merse for admitting it

Thank you for sharing your story Paul. Always humbling to see a presence like yourself talk openly and candidly about real issues affecting real people. Praise to you sir, and here's to brighter days forever! Many thanks to Jamie too. Very personal stuff on display here, dealing with it with courage and dignity. True gentlemen here.

Top genuine humble conversation. You could tell it meant so much to them with the passion of there voices

Thanks Paul for the inspiration.

I resonate with this so much,I am going through all of it now,my health has fell off a cliff,and I already suffered depression before,but not being able to walk far because of bad health has led to further isolate myself,I have nothing but my mind,and time to dwell,and that can be a really bad thing,so thanks for talking about it.

Thanks for this guys.. really helped me today hearing this. bless you all.. 🙏🏽💖

This was very inspiring. As someone who has suffered for years. Someone who has pushed family and my partner away from me because I kept going into a dark state of depression and refusing to believe I was weak. Well, I wasn’t weak. I’m very strong, I’m working on fixing things with my girlfriend who I supposedly burned all my bridges with, my family love me, I have a good job. I have good hobbies, football and pool. I’m working on myself and projects within my life. I’m stronger than ever, nobody can knock me down again!

A year for Merson. Good man.

Congrats Mr Merson... I'm personally struggling with all the demons you mention but this gives me great courage to try again hearing your story... I must learn to be more honest with myself plus find more communication links but hopefully I and everyone else in the struggle can find some happiness and a purpose in the end.. Good luck to everyone out there!!

Kudos to Merse for speaking out, we need more people like him.

Brilliant video, so important 👏🏼

Paul Mersin is a top guy, although he says some things about football that people don’t agree with he always says his opinion exactly how it is, he doesn’t have a filter which is rare these days so that itself should be praised people are way too harsh on him

This was good to listen to as I’ve had (still do) psychosis. I was reluctant to go on medication but decided to go on medication after awhile. It’s helped me and I don’t overthink as much anymore. I used to think mental was only for “weak” people but it can happen to anyone. Like Paul said, don’t ever think you’re bad person ✌️

Fantastic words.

Being alone has a power very few people can handle..The Hermit lifestyle for me is bliss . its certainly not for everyone

I suffered for 17 years, nearly committed suicide, people also need to realise that a lot of times tablets to correct a chemical imbalance are necessary. There's such a stigma attached to prescription drugs, and it has to stop, Citalopram saved my life. It needs discussing. Deep depression and anxiety are rarely cured by talking. The stats out there prove it. I for one tried countless sessions. I know it starts with a break of silence, but let's explore every avenue.

Very powerful viewing must admit have times where I'm struggling and hearing paul speaking so openly and the other lads is a help thanks

Thank you for posting this. So important.

I've been suffering depression and anxiety for many years and have put off meds for years now trying again on meds football is my life it keeps me going I've seen Paul Merson play has a Liverpool fan I hope he gets by like I am now and we can both has many others get over this horrible condition

Thanks all for being so candid. This is an issue that won’t go away and needs constant awareness.

Hats off all being so open and candid and brave ...can only help and if it helps just a few people to start talking then only a good thing

Thank you for talking about this. You didn’t shy away from talking about it. Huge respect for Merse and everyone for talking so honestly about the way you feel. Laura was the perfect host to get these men to open up as much they did. Please watch this.

Good work guys. Really important to talk about this...

Great Debate. Very helpful and insightful from everyone involved

Anyone else heard it all before...but got cut deep by this video? The honesty displayed here made me feel ashamed. The patterns of addiction were articulated in a way that was uncomfortably familiar. Respect to everyone in this video. Been a long time since I felt like I needed a word with myself.

brilliant piece, this needs to be discussed so much more..

Thank you, especially Jamie O'Hara, top man!

Thank u paul im a recovering alcoholic and it is an illness but since iv had therapy and counciling has helped so much iv been sober for 2 months everyday is a fight but im enjoying it pushin myself and winning

It's okay not to be okay but it's not okay to stay that way

The most striking thing about all this is the COMPASSION in that room. Times have changed. This is because all three men have actually gone through the REALITY of mental health issues/addiction. Anyone struggling, you must know this: you are the baddest motherfuckers on the earth (I mean that in a good way). Even if you are just surviving day by day. Whatever it takes - keep going. This is coming from someone who knows.

Anxiety crippled me for years but once I finally overcome the fear of telling someone and the so called embarrassment I started to fight back and asked for help 1 year later even though it's not perfect I feel happier that I've accepted mental health ain't anything to feel uncomfortable about.

Brilliant episode, nothing but respect for Paul, Jamie and Clinton for opening up, and for the Debate crew for bringing this issue up. Well done!

We need more of these conversations from these pros. Great conversation

Excellent Talk. Thanks for sharing!

Well said Paul, good segment

This is powerful!

Well said

I love the honesty on display here. Top blokes. Thank you.

Something I have said to a friend in my early 30's was that I could be in a room full of people that cared about me and yet I'd feel totally alone. I have been a central part of my friends group many times over the years but never had the confidence that I was worth their time. I have been emotionally on the edge way too many times to mention. It's scary looking back. To think at one point I was on the way out. I'm now 40 and a touch better. My 2 year old son is my life focus and gives me purpose. I still have my personal issues but having a goal of bringing up this wonderful child gives me something to strive for. None of us are alone, none of us are worthless. All the guys and girls who feel there is nothing for them, I hope they find that small thing that creates your life. Keep strong, keep going. Good things can happen to us all. Talk. Talk to someone. Talk to someone who cares or talk to someone new. Talk to a professional. Get help. Your worth the effort no matter how much you feel otherwise.

absolute class discussion 👏🏻 Thankyou for talking so honestly

Very late to this. Fell into addiction myself for 7 years and it is no joke, I honestly thought it was never going to end. On the straight and narrow myself and massive respect to Paul Merson 👍 if anyone who is struggling at the moment please believe it can get better no matter how dark it gets

Well done guys keep doing this please

Beautiful conversation.

Wow much respect for spending a good part of your segment on mental health issues. It is so important for EVERYONE . God bless

I have bipolar and suffered in silence for years, 3 suicide attempts but these days i am no longer afraid to talk and help others, its a complete nonsense that sufferers are weak, if anything you are stronger for living with it and have a amazing ability to understand and help people, i plan to get involved and do just that.

never thought I'd be tearing up at a sky sports football video. What these guys were saying is the truth and some people need to realise that mental health is important, struggling doesn't make you a snowflake, it makes you a real person

Really enjoyed this discussion.. it was a real eye opener, mental health is not a joke!

Good lad is Paul good luck to him and everyone fighting against this awful illness

I have a lot of respect for Paul merson to open up and talk about his struggles and past issues. Depression ain't no joke man. Thank you sky sports for highlighting this issue🙏🏿

I’m so glad that sky has done this. But I also think that we need to acknowledge how far we have come as a society and people suffering from mental health are getting more support from the people around them and that things are getting better

I really appreciate the way these guys open up there heart and speak their truth

Thank you

Amazing this video is up 22 months and for only 141 and half thousand people to have seen it is mad. Never liked Paul Merson until a few days ago when I saw him in a BBC documentrie about his addiction problems. Now I have nothing but respect for the man.

Fantastic. Sheer honesty.

The same emptiness inside me that urged me to gambling, sex, food, alcohol and drugs was there as a child who obsessed over football stickers, wrestling figures, stealing car badges and numerous other materialistic things. I was born with the disease of addiction, the never-ending pursuit of attempting to fulfil my internal deterioration with external materialistic items or substances. Even now I know what I suffer from I don't know how to control it.

fair play to these lads completely Changed my opinion on them after watching this, top blokes

I watch this from the dark place Paul was in. I'm fed up with being fed up but yet to believe that I'm not a bad person. Thanks guys, Paul, Jamie and Sky Sports for helping destigmatise depression and addiction.

Absolute amazing work from sky, really talking about mental health

A guy I have total respect for and genuinely enjoy watching. Well done Paul

Top guy Paul massive respect ✊ a lot of intelligent individuals get depressions and addictions, it’s sad it’s usually the best people that get it also big ups Jamie o hara very difficult to speak up about these everyone stay safe and don’t forget you are just as important as anyone else ❤️💯‼️

Thankyou Sky-Sports. We have a Work Social Media Mental Health Page set up. There is also Validium which I'm trying to raise awareness for at my Workplace over the next few weeks.

Great watch. Well done lads 👍

Great conversation, good people

Love you Merse, stay strong fella. Up The Villa 🦁

Very open and honest….good on them

Huge praise for these men standing up with this message. Awesome.

Big up to Merse, talking true fellowship, well done on the year sober, I did 387 days once best thing I ever did.

Well done Sky on airing this issue, keep it up. That stat for young men and kids at school is terrifying.

Fair play to Sky Sports for addressing such a serious problem that is so common in young men, they've used this platform to have ex football stars talk about it to a male targeted audience. Well done 👍

a very open and vulnerable discussion

Keep up the AA/NA meetings Paul! I'm 17 years sober and an Arsenal fan here. It's possible but it takes work and looking at trauma eventually. And stick around therapy if you can afford it people. It's saved my sanity.

It's funny though and don't get me wrong this isn't a dig at footballers but if you're a footballer you can pick up the phone and get mental health therapy immediately but if your poor like me the doctor puts you on a two and a half year waiting list. The media needs to put pressure on the government for more funding. Big respect to these lads for speaking up.

Well done lads for being open and honest

Gambling Addiction: Sky, will you talk about gambling addiction?

Good people suffer from this. Merse, well done for talking about it. You’re right as well. It’s not just a week, it’s for life. He’s right about the addiction side as well. I’ve struggled with addiction and it is a lonely thing. Talking helps.

Yeh & Paul Merson has loads of empathy...

Jamie o'hara is spot on 1000% hes helped me more than anyone I've ever spoken to .

One of the worst parts of it for me is that with the depression, i just can't focus on what im doing. I almost pulled out in front a speeding car the other day for example because my mind is just gone, i forget to lock doors and i forget where im even going soemtimes because my mind is just such a mess.

Great to see all these guys talking about this topic. Used to see Mers as a joker and jester but he's looking great! Trim, compos mentis, lucid and really helpful! Jamie O'Hara heard a lot about you when I was growing up in Essex, seems like you became a really mature dude too. Good on y'all.

Not even one helpline number on screen

A lot of respect for Paul. It's not easy talking about your struggles with mental health. Good job Sky Sports.

Something about mental health in sportsmen! High functioning individuals need stimulation, organise their day! In addition, you know what contributes to mental health problems? Worrying about bills and having a roof over your head! Of all people, Russell Brand said “ We live in a society that does not align with the human spirit”

They are maddeningly inconsistent. They deleted that video of Gary Neville discussing Qatar and the UAE but they post this. I want to be okay with it but they’re still not talking about everything they should.

I found social media didnt help me I just compared my life to other . See wat my friend had girlfriend, children , cars , house etc. felt like I wasnt working hard enough or werent good enough . Still struggling to this day