Mitchell Johnson candidly spoke about his struggle with depression during his interrogation on Monday night’s episode of SAS Australia.
And the 38-year-old former cricketer thanked his wife for her support by sharing a throwback photograph of the couple after the confronting scenes aired.
‘Thanks to my beautiful wife Jess for the amazing support she has always given me, through some of my darkest times, she has always been caring and helped me deal with my depression,’ the sportsman wrote.
Support: SAS Australia’s Mitchell Johnson thanked his wife Jess for her support during his ‘darkest times’ after his candid admission that he suffers from depression. Pictured together in a throwback photo
The cricketer went on to thank his children and the overwhelming amount of support he has received from the public.
‘Thanks to our beautiful kids for the love. I’d like to thank everyone who has sent msg’s [messages] of support over the past 12 hours or so,’ he wrote.
‘I’m incredibly thankful and it has been overwhelming. I will continue to get the professional help I need to keep moving forward.’
From the heart: ‘Thanks to my beautiful wife Jess for the amazing support she has always given me, through some of my darkest times, she has always been caring and helped me deal with my depression,’ he wrote
Mitchell candidly discussed his battle with depression during Monday’s episode of the hit reality show.
During an interrogation with directing staff Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham and Ollie Ollerton, Mitchell explained that his lack of confidence stemmed from professional cricket no longer helping him ‘block’ his struggles with mental health.
On Tuesday’s episode, an exhausted Mitchell Johnson broke down in tears and quit the show during a gruelling challenge.
Brave: Mitchell informed viewers of his backstory on Monday, saying: ‘In 2011 in South Africa, I just wasn’t enjoying myself. I wasn’t enjoying being a professional cricketer and, I guess, being looked at and judged all the time’
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‘I just think I’m in that transition now where I’ve been out of playing cricket for two years. I found out I got depression. But I think the depression is something I’ve had from even a younger age,’ he said
Mitchell was carrying a log with his teammates, when he let go and folded over in half.
Chief instructor Ant Middleton approached the recruit and asked him whether he wanted to continue with the show.
‘What decision are you going to make? Make a decision now! You get back on that log or you give me your number,’ he ordered, as Mitchell broke down in tears.
At his limit: An exhausted Mitchell Johnson broke down in tears and quit during a gruelling challenge on SAS Australia on Tuesday
Exhausted: Defeated, he then crouched on the ground and continued to cry, as he admitted: ‘I can’t make excuses, I’m just not good enough’
After managing to pull himself together, Mitchell ran to catch up with his teammates, but as he neared them, he stopped.
Turning to face Ant, Mitchell silently pulled off his armband and handed it over to Ant, signalling the end of his time on the show.
Back at base camp, Mitchell made an emotional phone call to his wife, Jessica Bratich, telling her he was ‘done’.
He then broke down in tears, sobbing into the phone as he confessed: ‘I just couldn’t do it… I just thought mentally I’d be a bit stronger, that’s all.’
For confidential mental health support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Phoning it in: Back at base camp, Mitchell made an emotional phone call to his wife, Jessica Bratich, telling her he was ‘done’
Source: Daily Mail
