Humza Yousaf admits to suffering from 'state of breakdown' as he opens up about mental health struggle as junior minister and end of first marriage

The First Minister said he was almost ‘in a state of breakdown’

Humza Yousaf has opened up about struggling with his mental health when he was a junior minister and while his first marriage had broken down.

The First Minister said he suffered “a state of breakdown” and did not move from his sofa for 24 hours. He said he kept quiet at the time due to the stigma attached to seeking help as a serving politician.

Mr Yousaf made the comments while appearing on the podcast The Rest is Politics, which is hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart.

First Minister Humza Yousaf while giving evidence to the UK Covid 19 Inquiry. Picture: PA

The 38-year-old was transport minister between 2016 and 2018. In December 2016, he was caught driving a friend's car without the proper insurance. At the time, he said it was an "honest mistake" following the break-up of his marriage to Gail Lythgoe.

Last year, Mr Yousaf revealed he received counselling during this period, which he said was “one of the best decisions I ever made”.

Asked by Mr Campbell whether he had carried on with his counselling since becoming First Minister, Mr Yousaf said: “I haven’t, actually, and that’s to my detriment. I absolutely should check in. Because it is important and I learned the lesson far too late.

“I remember it well. I remember the day that I knew I needed help. I was transport minister, my first marriage had broken down, it was a really tough time I was having. I remember it was in the middle of difficult weather – [for] transport ministers that’s always a difficult job. And I didn't really feel I had anybody to turn to.

Humza Yousaf

“I remember actually a whole day passing, I literally did not move from the right hand side of my settee. For a whole 24 hours I didn't move, didn't get up to drink water, didn't go to the toilet, didn't eat anything.

“I remember just almost being in a state of breakdown, and crying and upset, and not really understanding what I was upset at. But then at that point, 24 hours later, knowing I needed help.”

Mr Yousaf also said he feels "hurt and regret" at the breakdown of his relationship with the SNP's former leader, Alex Salmond.

He credited the former first minister and party leader as the reason he joined the SNP and said Mr Salmond gave him many opportunities at the start of his career.

But he accused his former boss - who now leads pro-independence party Alba - as giving the SNP a "kicking every day".

Mr Yousaf said he had hoped the former first minister would take on an "elder statesman" role in giving advice and assisting his former party with the independence movement.

But he said: "I feel, if I'm honest with you, the breakdown in the relationship with Alex is a matter of not just regret, but I feel quite hurt about it all and how it has all transpired.

"Somebody I looked up to now spends a fair bit of his time laying the boot into the SNP and trying to damage me, whether that's personally or the SNP, and frankly the cause that we both love."