In recent years, Paddy McGuinness began to notice subtle changes in his behaviour. Nothing dramatic at first. The comedian and presenter simply found himself becoming more irritable than usual – snapping slightly more at work or growing impatient behind the wheel. Eventually, the people around him began to notice it too. That’s when he decided to seek help.
McGuinness reached out to the Priory and arranged therapy. The first attempts didn’t go smoothly. One therapist didn’t feel like the right fit, and after several sessions he stopped going. A second try also got off to a rocky start. But when he finally met a therapist he connected with, things clicked almost immediately.
‘I was sat with him for five minutes and I knew straight away this bloke’s the one for me,’ McGuinness tells MH.
Over the next six months, he saw the therapist every fortnight. The irritability and frustration he had been feeling were eventually diagnosed as symptoms of clinical depression. The experience changed how he thinks about mental health – particularly the pressure many men feel to appear as though everything is fine.
‘Knowing a few people who’ve done that,’ says McGuinness, referring to people in his life who died by suicide, ‘it makes me really think about my emotions more, because I wouldn’t want to end up in that space where everyone thinks you’re alright and you’re not and then it’s too late.’
For McGuinness, the lesson is simple: the signs aren’t always obvious, and pretending everything is fine can make it harder to get help when it’s needed most.
If you’re struggling with your mental health or experiencing thoughts of suicide, support is available. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans for free on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org. The service is available 24 hours a day. You can also speak to your GP or visit nhs.uk/mental-health for advice and information about getting help.
Read our full interview with Paddy McGuinness at this link. You can subscribe to Men's Health by clicking here.
