World No 2 Luke Humphries said his rise to the top of darts would never have been possible had he not opened up about his mental health struggles.
Humphries, who has partnered with the Samaritans to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, was on the grind of the PDC Tour when he suffered an anxiety attack midway through a tournament in 2019 and considered quitting.
He spoke openly about his troubles, and it had a positive impact on him as he surged to the top of the game, culminating in winning the 2024 World Championship title and becoming world No 1.
“For me, the best thing I ever did was go and see a doctor and go and tell him my feelings,” Humphries said in conversation with a Samaritans volunteer.
Humphries went on to win the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship title and became world No 1
“Look who I am now. I’ve achieved so much from doing that and I’m so glad I did.
“The first step is to be open and honest about it. When I told my mum and dad stuff, they were really helpful. They helped me get where I needed to be.
“With what I was going through, the way I was feeling and where I thought my career was going to go, to end up with nine major titles, and a World Championship and a World Cup and a Matchplay four or five years later, I would never have thought that was going to happen to me.
“I thought that would have been impossible because of the way I was feeling at the time.
“I just felt like my career was going to end and I almost thought about giving it up because the stress was playing on me a lot.
“I decided to stick with it and it was the best choice I ever made, to be honest. It really did pay its dividends.”
The Samaritans say one in four people experience suicidal thoughts, with suicide being the biggest killer of men under 50.
Humphries, who will play in next week’s World Series of Darts Finals, revealed he still suffers from anxiety but knows how to handle it.
“I still get those moments of anxiety and stuff, but they’re just random,” he said.
“They’re not in moments you would expect, surrounded by hundreds of people. It could just be a random moment when I’m driving in the car by myself and you just get this bout of anxiety.
“It’s strange, but I know how to deal with it better. You don’t spiral, I think that’s the most important thing. That’s why I feel my mental health has been so much better in the last three to four years.”
Humphries hailed for ‘creating different kind of legacy’
Simon Gunning, chief executive officer of Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), hailed Humphries after the world No 2 opened up about his mental health struggles on World Suicide Prevention Day.
He said: “It’s hard to overstate the impact these stories have.
“We know from people calling our helpline that someone like Luke sharing their experience can be the turning point they need to seek help.
“What Luke has achieved on the board is extraordinary, but his willingness to speak openly about his mental health is creating a different kind of legacy.
“He’s giving people permission to open up when they’re struggling, and that ripple effect is profound.”
If you have been affected by any of these issues or are worried about someone else, visit Sky Sports’ Support for our Viewers page for more information on how to receive support.
You can also contact Samaritans free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by calling 116 123 or visiting www.samaritans.org.
Leave a Reply