Former Premier League star Lee Hendrie has admitted he tried to kill himself ‘five or six times’, as he opened up on ITV show Harry’s Heroes.
Whilst talking with Paul Merson and Vinnie Jones, he recalled how we woke up on a life support machine after one attempt.
‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’
Lee Hendrie discusses his continued struggle with depression. This clip does contain upsetting content.#HarrysHeroes: Euro Having A Laugh. Watch now on @ITVHub ?https://t.co/xbp0HqVNOc@VinnieJones65 @PaulMerse @leehendrie77 pic.twitter.com/7CEsK560fG— ITV (@ITV) May 20, 2020
Hendrie went from earning as much as £30,000-a-week at the peak of his career with Aston Villa, before making several suicide attempts due his financial woes which saw his and his mum’s house repossessed.
He said: “I fell deep down into depression really.
“I ended up going bankrupt, my house got repossessed, they repossessed my mum’s house and that just destroyed me.
“That was it then, I got up one day and tried to kill myself. I woke up on a life-support machine, my body had shut down. Then I tried to do it again.
“I just couldn’t grasp what was going on. Still now, every single day I struggle, I still take anti-depressants. I didn’t even want to talk about it.”
He added: “It was really selfish of me to do that. I’ve got five children and to think I was going to leave all that behind. I just felt like I had let everyone down really.”
Hendrie’s property portfolio, which had once been worth £10million, was swamped by huge debt, according to The Guardian.
In an interview with the publication, Hendrie said “could easily name five, six times where I tried to do that in the bad period” and admitted his wife Emma “went through an awful lot”.
He said: “The football was almost over and my head was gone.
“I’d been trying to sell property but the housing market crashed. I got to the stage where I just wanted to end it all. I’d hit rock bottom.”
Hendrie has more recently been working for Sky Sports as a pundit, and said he was grateful for the opportunity to put his dark days behind him.
“Things can be fantastic one day or one week and then it can turn,” he told The Guardian. “I can sit in bed for three days and not want to get up.
“I’m my own worst enemy. I don’t feel I deserve any plaudits. But I’m proud I’ve become someone different.
“I’ve ended up getting myself into a great job working for Sky Sports. I’ve got to thank lots of people that have taken a punt on me and realised I’m not that person I’m painted out to be.
“For all the bad press, I’m still a human being. I’m striving to do this new job well but I always have that fear things could go wrong again.”
Thank you for all your lovely comments last night means so much. I really do hope it helps others. We are all Human life can be tough a problem shared is a problem halved❤️my hat-trick ball put a smile on my face ?#harrysheros #MentalHealthAwareness pic.twitter.com/mFMdJikclW
— leehendrie77 (@leehendrie77) May 20, 2020
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org
Fans reacted after the former Premier League star admitted he tried to kill himself ‘five or six times’…
Tears in my eyes. You can just see in Lee Hendrie’s face how much he’s depressed. Good to see men opening up and talking. So many keep it deep down and before you know it our loved ones and mates are gone.
— Jason Lee ?? (@ForeverAYellow) May 20, 2020
Lee is definitely struggling with life in general. All too familiar and sad to see. Keep talking Lee!
— PapaBeatts (@ArrghBee) May 20, 2020
Brilliant viewing, I cant believe the statement from a commentator when showing old footage of a player crying ” I THOUGHT HE WAS A HARD MAN how things have changed, every person should be allowed to show emotion, we know this now.
— KR (@Katrobs1) May 20, 2020
Fantastic programme. Not quite what I was expecting.
— Braxton hix (@chinwah33) May 20, 2020
Well done for opening up and talking about it, not an easy thing to do.
— Stuart_JSmith (@Stuart_JSmith) May 20, 2020
That was very brave reaching out like that on tv in front of a huge audience. Well done to Vinnie and Mers. They’ve both had their demons of late and will be excellent mentors
— martyn byrne (@martyonline) May 20, 2020
What an emotional and moving interview! Merse is so right! Everything looks fine on the outside! But it’s not on the inside. Vinnie you are spot on, houses, money, nothing can ever replace a something you love so much x
— Trev Jenkins (@jenkins_trev) May 20, 2020
Paul Merson & Lee Hendrie are blinding blokes, to open up like they both have during this programme speaks volumes.
Goes to show, it’s not literally all about the money, even footballers, your idols are human beings. #HarrysHeroes
— Nick Marsh (@MarshyBoy26) May 19, 2020
Never knew that about lee hendrie, I’ll be first to think he was abit of an arrogant sod. But you never know deep down how people are and what’s going on in their life. Be kind
— james bollington (@jbollington13) May 19, 2020
What a bloke @PaulMerse is speaks from the heart and even though he has his own issues he is always there to help. I am struggling like Lee Hendrie at the min with depression I tried too take my own life 3 weeks ago wish I had a Paul Merson in my life #HarrysHeroes
— Dave Jones (@DaveJon93159189) May 19, 2020
Huge respect to Lee Hendrie, Paul Merson and Vinnie Jones for opening up on #HarrysHeroes ??
Difficult environment to talk about that kind of stuff— Scott Wilson (@scottwilson_28) May 19, 2020
Vinnie Jones and Paul Merson talking to Lee Hendrie about his depression on ‘Harry’s Heroes’, each of them displaying searing honesty, was quite beautiful, and, in Mental Health Awareness Week, so important too. #HarrysHeroes
— Howie Moran ?⚪⚫ (@HowieMoran7) May 19, 2020
Stories from Lee Hendrie, Merson etc just proves that footballers aren’t immortal, they’re human. Money and an unreal career doesn’t necessarily buy you happiness. #HarrysHeroes
— Joe Atkin (@JoeAFC_) May 19, 2020
Inspiring tv watching Paul Merson, Lee Hendrie and big Vinnie Jones talking about mental health and their struggles. Shows not everyone is immune, especially someone as tough as Vinnie #HarrysHeroes
— George (@G3Lawrence) May 19, 2020
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