Jenny Hastings speaks out on ‘peanut’ suicide bid

THE WIFE of rugby star Scott Hastings has opened her heart on her attempt to commit suicide, brought on by a severe case of depression, in a bid to help those who are similarly affected by the illness.

Jenny hopes that by describing her plight she can help raise awareness for other people who might suffer from depression. Picture: Esme Allen

Jenny Hastings told how she deliberately attempted to trigger her peanut allergy by eating one of the nuts and how her husband saved her life following the episode.

The mother-of-two described how the illness that she had battled on and off for nearly 20 years moved her to such a desperate action. Mrs Hastings said: “I bought a bag of mixed nuts in Marks and Spencer, drove to South Queensferry and parked up the car, before eating a peanut. I’d left no suicide notes. No explanations. I just wanted to die and end it all. I’m absolutely ashamed looking back, now that I am well again, at what I almost did to Scott and our children. But at the time I thought I was doing them a favour and they would be better off without me.”

She then described how her husband Scott saved her after she drove home, she added: “Scott grabbed the epiPen adreniline shot and injected me in the leg. We didn’t know if we were using it properly, so he stabbed me in the other leg to make sure.”

Mr Hastings, a former Scotland and British Lions rugby star said it was difficult for him at first to deal with the subject saying that “no-one talked about mental health then” but that he was grateful that “we had come along away” in our understanding of depression, he now hopes that the awareness his wife’s story will raise will help others who suffer from the illness.