FORMER TWO-WEIGHT world boxing champion Ricky Hatton has opened up about his battle with depression, revealing he tried to kill himself on several occasions after he retired.
In an honest and candid interview with BBC Radio 4′s Today show, Hatton spoke about the depths he had plunged to after his retirement from boxing left a huge void in his life.
“I tried to kill myself several times,” he said.
“I used to go to the pub, come back, take the knife out and sit there in the dark crying hysterically. There were times when I hadn’t had a drink for days and I’d still come home and if something went through my mind I’d start pondering something. It was the same outcome whether I was having a drink or wasn’t having a drink.
“But in the end I thought I’ll end up drinking myself to death because I was so miserable. I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train.”
Hatton has previously spoken about his battle with mental illness but his health deteriorated when he hung up his gloves in 2012.
The 38-year-old has now urged boxing authorities to help fighters with mental health issues during and after their career.
“Footballers have an agent who looks out for them and a football club that gets behind them. The Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) can also be there,” he added.
“Whereas boxers, it’s like once your time has gone it’s ‘on your way’ and move on to the next champion coming through.
“The thing is with boxers, we don’t come from Cambridge and places like that, we come from council estates. So in boxing it’s very, very hard. If boxing had a professional boxing association or something like that, I think it would be a better place.
“It seems to be happening more with boxers. It’s an individual sport so you get in the ring on your own and then when you retire you tend to spend the rest of your life on your own.”
If you need to talk, contact:
- Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
- Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
- Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie – (suicide, self-harm)
- Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
- Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)
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Life can be a tough individual sport too. Especially around these times where there’s a perception everything is wonderful and magical. Stay safe and be well everyone.
Hes clearly describing alcoholism here. It can and will make you suicidal.