Labour MP reveals battle with depression in plea for tolerance

Published on 15/06/2012 01:11

AN MP called for more tolerance of mental illness yesterday as he fought back tears to reveal his own battle with depression.

Labour’s Kevan Jones said colleagues often refused to admit mental ill-health for fear of being labelled frail or being disparaged.

Mr Jones, a former defence minister, said he suffered from a deep depression but had not sought help as he urged Speaker John Bercow to devote more resources to Parliament’s in-house team dedicated to helping MPs with mental health issues.

Many people still did not understand the pressures of being an MP, he told the Commons, adding that medication was only “part of the answer”. Therapy was just as important, he said.

Some of his relatives were not aware of the details of his illness, Mr Jones said. He added: “Like a lot of men, you try and deal with it yourself. You don’t talk to people. First of all it creeps up on you very slowly.

“I think in politics we are designed to think that somehow that if you admit fault or frailty you are going to be looked on in a disparaging way both by the electorate but also by your peers as well.

“We have got to talk about mental health in this House. Actually admitting that sometimes you need help is not a sign of weakness.”

Mr Jones, MP for North Durham, added: “Being an MP is a great privilege. It’s a great thing that I love but it also has its stresses.

“I don’t think that unless you’ve actually done it, anyone knows what those stresses are, both personally in terms of family but also in terms of what is expected of you in the modern technological age.”