Labour MP Simon Danczuk reveals fight against child abuse led to depression

Simon Danczuk has revealed his fight against alleged high-profile child abuse cases has made him depressed.

The Labour MP for Rochdale, who exposed the Cyril Smith scandal, bravely opened up about his mental health status on the BBC4's World at One on 6 July.

"What I have experienced is nothing compared to what the victims themselves have experienced. So I feel a bit guilty that I actually get upset about this stuff occasionally," he said. "You get flashbacks to what people have told you, what they have experienced.

"I would say that I have been suffering from depression to the point where I have decided to seek help for that."

Danczuk, who recently separated from his wife Karen, disclosed that he had been "getting angry at stuff that I shouldn't be getting angry at".

He also admitted that sometimes he drank too much and, at times, he had suffered from suicidal thoughts over the past year.

The 48-year-old visited the House of Commons' occupational health therapist, who referred the MP on to a psychiatrist.

Danczuk's comments comes after Charles Kennedy, a former Liberal Democrat leader, died from a major haemorrhage linked to his alcoholism.

A spokesperson for mental health charity Mind said: "One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year, so all of us will know someone affected.

"The most common mental health problem is mixed anxiety and depression, affecting one in 10 people each year [depression alone affects three in 100 people and anxiety alone affects five in 100 people]. Men are just as likely to experience a mental health problem as women, but often react differently."

Vince Cable, the former business secretary, told IBTimes UK in March that some MPs in the past had hid their mental health problems because of parliamentary rules.

But the Liberal Democrat said Westminster has witnessed a culture change and now politicians are more open about their mental health issues.

"There's a recognition that this is a serious issue in parliament. It's been suppressed for a very long time and you may know the reason," Cable said.

"There are two reasons why you can't be elected to parliament: One of them is criminality and the other is a mental illness. People probably kept this hidden but it's now confronted openly. Quite a lot of MPs have had stress and depression.

"The House of Commons' authorities have recognised that this is a service that needs to be provided."