Former Cork hurler opens up on his battle with depression

Donal Og’s Cusack’s brother Conor has blogged about his depression and how he learned to cope with it. You have to read it.

In light of recent news, and what we know is the large number of people dealing with depression in this country, the power of public figures speaking about their depression can’t be underestimated. When those public figures come from the GAA background it is even more important as they will reach an audience that is harder to get to, but one that needs that message more than most; young men. Cavan keeper Alan O’Mara spoke up expertly during the summer and now Conor Cusack, a former Cork hurler, has followed suit. Cusack tells the story of how he was diagnosed at 19 with depression and how he was put on a cocktail of tablets that saw his weight balloon, with one doctor advising him to try electric shock therapy. He talks in chilling detail about how he planned to kill himself before a meeting with a clinical psychologist gave him a ‘chink of light in the darkness’. From that point he slowly recovered, made the Cloyne team and the Cork senior team and it is now nine years since he saw his psychologist. His story is sad, and uplifting, and important, and all too common. But it is ultimately hopeful and the kernel of his message is summed up in this passage. ‘There is no situation that is without hope, there is no person that can’t overcome their present difficulties. For those that are suffering silently, there is help out there and you are definitely not alone. Everything you need to succeed is already within you and you have all the answers to your own issues.’ We strongly advise you check out Conor's blog in full here and if you need to speak to somebody about the issues Conor raises, the folks at Pieta House can be reached at 01 601 0000.