Celebrity chef Donal Skehan revealed his mental health struggles after facing the "hardest year" of his life.
The Irish cooking sensation recalled a number of devastating incidents that left him at his lowest ebb in an emotional interview. Donal, 36, said he had been struggling with "no consistency to life" in the months leading up to the onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020.
The Howth man was left overwhelmed after he was forced to uproot his family from Los Angeles to Ireland at the start of the first lockdown. This pressure coupled with the demands of his career and the world-shattering news of his father's prostate cancer diagnosis left him struggling with his mental health.
Read more: Donal Skeehan helps out at Dublin food run during busy night
Donal said his "lifeline completely shut down…elements of depression and anxiety crept in" after the shock news and the fact that he couldn't see his parents due to the Covid restrictions in place at the time. He recalled how being isolated from his parents who were his support system left him feeling like his "world was torn apart".
Speaking to Darren Kennedy on The Number podcast, Donal said that despite the trials he faced, he now has a newfound perspective and appreciation for life. He said: "Had we not gone through that, we would not have the understanding of what we wanted. It really did put a focus on things."
Donal, who has two sons with his wife Sofie, spoke about the hard realities fathers face when navigating life with a newborn. Speaking about the days after the birth of his first born, Donal said: "I found it really hard to give up that control to this tiny little baby. I think very few people talk about it."
He said that fatherhood has given him a new lease of life and that "your perspective really does change".
You can listen to Donal Skehan’s interview on The Number podcast on Spotify.
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