Lewis Hamilton has been praised by a leading mental health charity for speaking openly about his battle with depression.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion spoke about his mental health problems in an interview with Sunday Times Style magazine, revealing that he was a victim of bullying as a child.
Hamilton, 39, said he began meditating during the coronavirus pandemic because he “initially struggled to calm his mind,” linking these feelings back to his youth.
“When I was in my twenties I had some really difficult phases. I mean, I’ve struggled with mental health my whole life,” he said in a wide-ranging interview.
“Depression. Since I was little, when I was about 13 years old. I think it was the pressure of competing and fighting at school. Bullying. I had no one to talk to.
“I talked to a woman (a therapist) years ago, but it wasn’t very helpful. Today I would like to find someone.”
“You learn to know the things that were passed down to you from your parents, to notice patterns, to understand how you react to things and how you can change them. So, what might have made me angry in the past no longer makes me angry today. I’m much more refined.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Hamilton pinpointed the moment he realized he wanted to use his position to highlight injustices, revealing he broke down after watching a video of George Floyd’s killing.
“If I felt there were injustices, I didn’t feel I could speak,” added the Mercedes driver.
“The cap is blown. I knelt in tears, all the emotion came out of me. It was a strange experience, because I don’t remember crying since I was very young. I knew I had enough, that I needed to talk.”
“There are people who are silent, who feel voiceless and I have this platform. Winning championships is an amazing thing, but what do you do with it? What do you do with your time on this planet?”.
Now one of the oldest men in Formula 1, Hamilton has the power to challenge any perceived wrongdoing and, recently, during the Singapore Grand Prix, he labeled comments made to Autosport by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem as having a “ racist element.”
By speaking openly about his mental health, Hamilton is the latest sports star to normalize what has long been a taboo topic, especially among men in his age group.
“We are grateful to Lewis Hamilton for opening up and sharing his experience with depression and the impact racism has had on him for many years,” Joe Levenson, the association’s media manager, told Motorsport.com volunteer for mental health Mind.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, waves to the fans in Parc Ferme
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“Speaking up and speaking out can help normalize conversations and challenge the stigma that often surrounds mental health. At Mind, we know that when public figures talk openly about their mental health, it can have a powerful impact.”
“Our research has shown that one in five people have started a conversation about their mental health after hearing a celebrity or high-profile person share their experience.”
:: For more information about depression, visit the Mind website.
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