F1 News: George Russell Gives Candid Interview On Mental Health Journey After "Low Point" In Career
Mercedes F1 driver George Russell has spoken out on his mental health journey in a recent candid interview.
In an in-depth discussion with Men's Health Magazine, Russell opened up about his experience seeking help from a mental health specialist. He shed light on why he chose to take this step and why he thinks society should be more accepting of the need for mental health support.
Russell spoke about how his view on mental health has evolved over the last two years, and highlighted the numerous benefits he has received from his therapy sessions, including improved performance as a Formula One driver.
The Grand Prix winner explained:
“I haven’t always been into my mental health. I only started getting into it about a year and a half, two years ago, when I started to speak with a psychologist, mainly for my on-track personal performance.
“It was only through those conversations that I felt like this is giving me more than just the on-track benefits. I’m coming away from these sessions feeling better about myself, feeling like there had been a weight lifted off my shoulders.
“Sometimes I went into these sessions with not a lot to talk about, thinking it would only last five or 10 minutes, and I was there well over an hour and since then it has been something I have felt strongly about.”
The Mercedes driver candidly shared about a difficult moment in his career that led him to seek support from a mental health expert. He described how he quickly realised the benefits of speaking to a psychologist.
“The moment when I thought I need to seek some professional help, I had a really difficult race. I had a crash, [and] it was a very low point in my career.
“I thought I could just pick myself up from that moment and I was picking myself up, but we decided to speak with a professional.
“And I was so grateful that I was advised to do that because I came away from that conversation and that meeting with him feeling so much better about myself, and put those negatives to the side, lifted myself up, and I was ready to attack the rest of the day and the rest of the week.”
Russell was asked what advice he would give to anyone struggling, he responded highlighting the importance for "mental maintenance". He said:
“The one bit of advice I would give to someone who is struggling with their mental health would be not to be ashamed about talking to somebody. Whether that is a friend, or a colleague, or a member of your family, or reaching out to a professional.
“We all have our moments where we are feeling a bit down, a little bit low but even when we are not, I think talking to somebody to almost have this mental maintenance just to keep ticking over, to keep in that positive place, is so important.”