Irish actor Devon Murray has admitted he nearly hung himself – while battling severe depression.
Devon, who is best known for playing Seam Finnigan in the Harry Potter series, has been opening up about his issues with his mental health.
Speaking to Eoghan McDermott on his 2FM show, Devon said he almost took his own life.
Devon, 28, was in his stables when he decided he wanted to end his own life.
Opening up: Devon spoke about his battle with depression
“I was pretty much getting ready to hang myself.
“I text my mam and my dad…I can’t actually remember what I said to them, but it was me asking for help without asking for help.
“My mam and dad straight away were ringing and texting me, but I wouldn’t answer their calls,” he admitted.
“I said sorry for everything. My mam and dad knew something was seriously up.
“At the end of the texts I sat there and I was sobbing, I was in bits, my mam came up and gave me a hug,” he added.
Devon said he has been suffering from depression for “close to 12 years”, and that things took a turn on his 16th birthday.
“People always said ‘oh you were in Harry Potter, you’ve the best life in the world’…and I’ve had an amazing life, but I also had to give up so much,” he explained.
I’ve been battling depression in silence for ten years & only recently spoke about it and has made a huge difference #worldmentalhealthday
— Devon Murray (@DevonMMurray) October 10, 2016
“I had to live in the UK for pretty much 11 years, away from my father, away from my school friends. Away from just going to school and having my horses
“That kind of weighed on me, not being with my dad, me and my dad were so close growing up.
“On my 16th birthday I was in a fantastic suite in London, my room was full of presents from everybody.
“I should have been happy, but all I thought was ‘I’m not really where I want to be’.
“That’s the first time it clicked like ‘come on Devon, there’s something not right’.
Silence: Devon ignored his friends during his down times
“From there it started gradually getting worse,” he explained.
“I was constantly upset…my self-confidence went to an all-time low.
“I stopped speaking to friends, I wouldn’t talk to them, wouldn’t reply to texts, not answering phone calls,” he revealed.
Devon admitted that now he wishes he had spoken out years ago, as he Tweeted his issues with mental health last week.
Marking World Mental Health Day, Devon told his followers about his battle, and hopes more celebrities talking about depression can help others.
“I’d have had a much better life from 16 up to now if I had said how I was feeling,” he admitted.
“I’ve only ever told five people before I put it up on Twitter the other day.
“I regret not doing this back when I was 16,” he added.
