It's vital men discuss mental health, says Made In Chelsea star
Jamie Laing and wife Sophie
Presenter and podcast host Jamie Laing has revealed the “lowest point” his mental health has ever been was his first panic attack - which left him feeling “lonely and isolated”.
The 36-year-old, who shot to fame during his stint on E4’s Made In Chelsea, says the episode led to “severe anxiety” - which also led to him feeling “really low”.
Laing - who completed an Ultra Marathon Man Challenge for Comic Relief, running 150 miles over five days and raising over £2 million - is now encouraging other men to have conversations about their mental health.
During that first panic attack 14 years ago, he didn’t understand what was going on. “Back then, this conversation around mental health that we have now, didn’t exist. I was feeling very lonely and isolated within myself. I also felt embarrassed and scared about what I was feeling,” says Laing, who hosts the podcast NewlyWeds with his wife Sophie Habboo.
Laing, who now openly speaks up about the power of men sharing how they are feeling, said as soon as he reached out to a friend years later, it was a “huge moment of relief.
“After telling him how I was feeling, I got an echo back and he told me not to worry. He said that we would go through it together,” he says.
“It was one of those moments when I realised a lot of people go through similar feelings and it felt better in numbers. I didn’t feel alone anymore. I wish I had’ve spoken about it earlier, but I just didn’t have the courage.”
Although times are changing and the talkk around mental health is growing, Laing says men still have an issue. “I think we’re still scared or nervous to talk about it. I still think we need to get over the stigma of mental health.
“Typically in men - we don’t talk about it. I think what men could do individually is gather their friend group around and genuinely ask how everyone feels, and I promise you, every single one will open up and say how they feel.”
His Ultra Marathons was not only physically demanding, but also quite mentally tricky. Finding himself in what’s known as a ‘pain cave’ for many moments during his run, Laing shared what got him through.
“While I was running, the thing going through my head was thinking of everyone who donated, which was really amazing. I also thought a lot about my wife. I was playing lots of my wedding music throughout the runs which sounds cheesy but it was quite sweet.
“Another thing that helped was remembering the pain is only temporary. I told myself at some point this is going to stop and that was also a metaphor in regards mental health too.
“You just have to think that it is temporary. You will get through it. I promise you, it will pass,” Laing says. “It might take a week, a month, a year or two years, but you will get through it. You just have to keep going.”
“The second thing is, talk about it. Really talk about it to your friend, neighbour, anyone.”
“And the third thing I would say, which really helps, is exercise. If you have a combination of those three then you’re in a good place to try and make it better.”
The idea of success and what being successful looks like has changed over the years, he says. “What I now see as success as is being open and vulnerable, or being a kind person, a good friend, colleague.”
As a cast member of Made In Chelsea for 10 years - since the age of 22 - he looks back now with some compassion for his younger self. “I would tell him to stop caring - stop caring what people think of you as much.”
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