Ospreys' Harri Morgan has spoken for the first time since revealing he attempted to take his own life earlier this year.
The 23-year-old posted a brave social media message on Wednesday night, talking about his mental health struggles which culminated in him taking an overdose on February 5 this year.
He has, for now, put his rugby career on hold to prioritise his mental health and decided to make the statement in a hope others will seek help if they need it.
READ MORE: Ospreys rugby star Harri Morgan reveals suicide attempt as he puts career on hold
Morgan has now done an interview, explaining that the loss of his grandparents, coupled with sustaining injuries early in his playing days, severely impacted his wellbeing, with things coming to a head around Christmas time.
He told Sky News: "Losing them hit me, like nothing's ever hit me before. I love playing rugby - and by getting injured, I couldn't do that.
"Then the thoughts come of what's my point in life? What is my purpose? I had no purpose.
"Whereas rugby has always been my purpose, I'd lost the ability to play rugby. So I'd lost the purpose. And so that's when suicidal thoughts come in."
Morgan says he wants to help remove the stigma around the subject and hopes by him speaking out that others will get the help they need.
He says he knows people who have taken their own lives and says it is paramount help is sought.
"I know people close to me taking their own lives around my area," he said. "I've [sought] help. I haven't been able to fix it on my own. You can't fix something on your own.
"You've always need help and there are people that are out there for us to get help. The help that we need.
"And I'm hoping by speaking that I've either saved lives or will in the future. And that's what I'm hoping to do for years to come - keep having that voice, keep telling my story. And raise that awareness and break that stigma."
In a separate interview with BBC Sport, Morgan says he bottled up his emotions for years.
"I struggled to have the conversation for years - I bottled it up for six or seven years and I didn't talk to anyone," he said.
"I just tried coming in every day and hoped it would go away, but it's not something that just goes away overnight. You don't just wake up all of a sudden and feel fixed. It takes time and I'm not sure why we don't talk about it.
"But we don't and so hopefully by me opening up and talking about it it can help others. And the more people we get talking, the more positive impact that we'll have."
Morgan says the support he's received since he revealed his struggles has been heartening for him and revealed he hasn't ruled out a return to the game. He has been involved in coaching and is developing an online fitness business and hopes, should he come back to rugby, that he'll return stronger for his experiences.
"It's been amazing to see the reception I've had from my team-mates in supporting me throughout these difficult times and it shows what rugby can do - rugby is one big family and we all tend to look after each other," he said.
"I still love rugby. It's been my dream to be a rugby player and luckily I've lived up that dream."
"I'm going to take some time out, get myself mentally in a better place and then who knows?," he added.
"I might pick up a rugby ball again then see where it takes me and hopefully by then I'll be mentally stronger to then hopefully take that onto a rugby pitch and be a better player."
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