Becoming a father helped David Walliams battle his crippling depression, the comedian has revealed.
The funnyman – who has admitted attempting suicide – opened up about his struggle as he filmed a series of death-defying challenges with TV tough guy Bear Grylls.
It was having son Alfred, now five, that really turned his life around.
In this week’s episode of Bear’s Mission, David is seen scaling a bridge, abseiling down two cliffs and eating a rat.
He admits: “I have had struggles with depression in the past. There have been periods through my life when I’ve been very, very down and it’s been very long lasting.”
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But he adds: “I’m certainly in a better place now and one great thing about becoming a parent, your whole life starts revolving around them and you do stop dwelling on your own problems so much, because you don’t have time to.”
David shares joint custody of Alfred with ex-wife Lara Stone, pictured with David below. Asked what triggered his depression, he says: “A variety of things, end of relationships… all kinds of things can take you to a very bleak place.”
The Sunday Mirror’s Time To Change campaign is fighting to improve the treatment of people with mental health problems.
David tells Bear the best thing to do if you are suffering is: “Seek help and not feel ashamed... I did and that really, really helped.”
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Writing his children’s books helps too. He tells Bear: “I don’t really like being alone with my thoughts for very long...when you’re writing you’re not alone. You’ve got the characters, they’re like – it sounds a bit tragic – but they’re kind of like friends.”
