Mary Black has opened up about her experiences of postnatal depression, reminding people “there is light at the end of the tunnel”.
Following the traumatic birth of her first child, Conor, the beloved singer said she did not feel well in herself, but thought she was simply feeling a bit down in the dumps.
It was only after seeking help that Mary, who is also mum to Danny and Roisin, realised she could be happy and smile again.
Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on the RTE Late Late Show on Friday night, Mary, 64, said: “It was postnatal depression and it’s a very frightening thing because nobody put a name on it.
“This was more than 30 years ago - he’s 38 now so it was 37 years ago - and postnatal depression or any sort of depression was never talked about.”
The singer, whose latest album, No Frontiers, was released in September, said: “And I think, having gone through it that first time - and I did get well shortly after - it was the fear of never being able to smile or be happy again.
“I think the first time anyone is feeling depression - and I’ll say this to anyone out there that’s feeling bad - there is light at the end of the tunnel. It did happen to me again but it wasn’t as frightening because I felt, I was okay before, there is light and I’ll come back around.”
