‘I lost my purpose in life’: The Block’s Darren Jolly reveals he contemplated suicide after a brain tumour scare and his marriage breakdown
The Block star Darren Jolly has described the harrowing mental health struggles he has faced since suffering a brain tumour in 2015.
Speaking at Collingwood’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, the ex-footy star revealed he had contemplated suicide following a series of business troubles and the breakdown of his marriage.
‘Everyone is probably wondering what I’ve been up in this last seven years, certainly [since] when I finished footy back in 2013,’ the father-of-two began his speech.
‘I lost my purpose in life’: The Block’s Darren Jolly, 38, has revealed mental health struggles that left him contemplating suicide after his brain tumour scare and marriage breakdown
‘There’s been some highlights,’ Darren continued, before listing off his appearance in two series of The Block (one of which he won), gaining his full builder’s licence, starting a building business and buying a home.
The ex-Collingwood player then revealed the ‘extremely difficult challenges’ that he’s faced since he had a brain tumour removed after being told by a GP that he just had a sinus infection in 2015.
‘Having A Current Affair completely defame my new building business just as I was getting started over a build I did in Kew,’ he said, adding: ‘Having everything I’ve ever made in footy and after footy invested in a 2½ year legal battle due to clients I built for not paying.’
Brain tumour scare:Speaking at Collingwood’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, the AFL star revealed the ‘extremely difficult challenges’ that he’s faced since he had a brain tumour removed after being told by a GP that he just had a sinus infection in 2015
He went on to add: ‘Spending three weeks in a mental facility to deal with depression. Leaving my 15-year marriage because I fell out of love and wanted a happier life.’
Darren and his former wife Deanne announced their split in September last year, after 13 years of marriage.
At the time, Deanna claimed she was ‘devastated’ by the separation and had been ‘blindsided’ by her ex-husband.
‘There’s been some highlights’: Darren said winning The Block in 2015 with his then-wife Deanne (pictured) was a highlight in his life over the past seven years
‘I fell out of love and wanted a happier life’: Darren and his former wife Deanne announced their split in September last year, after 13 years of marriage. Pictured together at the 58th Logie Awards in Melbourne on May 8, 2016
The AFL star said his mental health became so bad that he ‘almost did something stupid and ended his life’.
‘Everything was too much to handle and I lost control. I lost my drive to keep going, I lost my purpose in life, I lost my direction and I lost my path. I thought it was easier just to go,’ Darren confessed.
Darren finally reached out for help by admitting himself into hospital to deal with his issues – something he now believes is the ‘best thing he could have done’.
The AFL star said his mental health became so bad that he ‘almost did something stupid and ended his life’. Pictured on A Current Affair in 2015
Reaching out for help. Darren finally reached out for help by admitting himself into hospital to deal with his issues – something he now believes is the ‘best thing he could have done’. Pictured: Darren playing AFL in 2005
The former sportsman said his mental health has improved greatly since his time in hospital, and he hopes that talking publicly about his struggles will inspire others to ask for help when needed.
‘I’m taking each day as it comes and continuing to work towards a happier and more fulfilling life. I know one day I’ll get to see my girls. I pray that’s sooner rather than later, I will get through this and be a better man for it,’ he concluded.
For confidential support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
‘I know one day I’ll get to see my girls’: The former sportsman ended his speech on an optimistic note, revealing that his mental health has improved greatly since his time in hospital. Pictured with and Deanne Jolly and their daughters in 2017