Former Downing Street press secretary Alastair Campbell has revealed that he has struggled with suicidal ideation in recent weeks.

The one-time Labour Party spin-doctor joined Pat Kenny this morning to discuss the effects of lockdown on his mental health.

Campbell recently fronted a BBC documentary about living with depression and he told Pat that opening up about it has “really, really helped” in recent years.

He said he suffered one of his darkest episodes during the last few weeks of lockdown.

“The truth is in this one, in this last one, I have had a lot of suicidal ideation, which does happen. It comes on you and you get to a point of thinking, ‘there really is no point to living because death must feel better than this,’” he said.

“Now, I am pretty sure I would never do that but you certainly have those feelings and when you are like that, you don’t think there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“You only feel the light at the end of the tunnel when it begins to lift.”

Alastair Campbell on stage at a rally in London, 06-12-2019. Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images

He said exercise, eating well, sleeping well and keeping his family close have all helped him through the dark times.

“I have to say, the other thing that I found has helped me, I can’t speak for everybody, but I do find that being open about it has really, really helped me,” he said.

“I used to lock it away and keep it to myself; pretend it was all fine and just plough through it and I think that is what most people do still.

“That is as a result of stigma and so forth but I don’t think that is the best way to do it and certainly the first thing I do now when I feel depressed is I tell [my partner] Fiona.”

He said interviewing other people about the issue also opened his eyes to how many people are battling similar issues.

“That revealed to me, ‘god, I’m amazed, Jeff Stelling says he is struggling; Nicola Sturgeon says it is really going to change her; David Lammy, the Labour MP, said he has had several really low bouts.

“That showed me that at least I am not on my own with this - and that helps.”

You can listen back to the full interview here:

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, The Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123. You can find details of your closest branch at www.samaritans.ie.