According to William Wragg, he is taking a “short sabbatical” from his responsibilities as an MP to deal with his depression.
The Hazel Grove Conservative MP claimed that he had struggled with depression and anxiety for most of his adult life and that both conditions were “serious” right now.
He expressed the wish that he would come back “refreshed” and “loving life and myself a little bit more.” He said that his constituents might still get in touch with his office for help.
The 34-year-old revealed in a tweet that she was fighting the urge to quit completely. I need a brief respite as a result.
He expressed the expectation that upon his return, he would be “better prepared to represent my constituents” and that he was making his statement “as an explanation, instead of delivering repetitive excuses.”
He continued, “I realise that way I feel is by no means unusual. I would advise anyone who feels the same way to talk to a trusted person, seek support, and accept it.”
At Westminster, talking about mental health has historically been frowned upon, but in recent years, MPs have been more candid about their challenges.
During a Commons discussion in 2012, Labour’s Kevan Jones discussed his struggles with depression and said that some family members would be learning about them for the first time.
Charles Walker, a Conservative member of parliament, also spoke during the same discussion about his own experience with OCD, subsequently calling it “liberating.”
Following his remarks, Mr. Wragg got encouraging letters from several of his fellow MPs and other Westminster employees.
Senior civil servants’ union leader Dave Penman said he can “only fathom the guts it takes to convey openly the issues you’re facing.”
Mr. Wragg, a former councillor and educator, has served as a Greater Manchester representative for Hazel Grove since 2015.
Since January 2020, he has served as the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s chair.
He made news earlier this year as a vocal opponent of outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he expressed concern about the strategies No. 10 utilised to maintain party discipline.