Aussie Olympic swimming legend Leisel Jones has made a candid admission about her mental health after sharing a heartbreaking photo to social media and revealing she felt like taking her own life.
The three-time Olympic gold medal winner posted two photos to social media on Tuesday evening, including one where she was in tears after experiencing one of her ‘worst days’.
‘Stay until tomorrow,’ she wrote.
‘It’s one of my favourite sayings. Yesterday was one of my worst days and I wanted to end it all.
‘I think I have been battling high functioning depression for a little while now and have just gone back to work with a psych.
‘In the dark moments I promise myself to just stay until tomorrow and it’s amazing what the next day can bring.’
Olympic swimming legend Leisel Jones opened up about reaching a low point in her battle with depression as she posted a heartbreaking photo (pictured)
Jones (pictured in another photo from her recent post) has been open about her mental health battle after almost taking her life 14 years ago
Jones then explained that after getting through the depressive episode, she had a much brighter day over the next 24 hours.
‘Today was spectacular. I had some free time after work and went on an hour-long walk along the beach,’ she said.
‘No goals. No plans. Just enjoy the sunshine and the view. I was really missing my walking buddy @iammeagennay but walking by myself was enough. It changed my whole perspective on things.
‘So if life has felt like a kick in the c**t lately, promise me you’ll stay until tomorrow.’
Jones’ post was soon inundated with comments from her high-profile friends.
‘I’m always available if you ever need to talk,’ posted swimming great Hayley Lewis.
‘Hang in there gorgeous girl! It’s a battle but you’re not alone! You are loved! I love you,’ replied Olympic cyclist Anna Meares.
‘Thank you for sharing in your most vulnerable moments, Leisel. That’s incredibly brave. Please stay,’ posted Nine star Sami Lukis.
The three-time Olympic gold medal winner says that there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who are struggling
Jones contemplated suicide in 2011 while she was on a training holiday in Spain
Fellow sporting greats Giaan Rooney, Brooke Hanson and Jana Pittman also sent her messages of support.
Last month, Jones broke down while opening up about the night 14 years ago when she almost took her own life.
‘I’d really like to talk about the hope and the light at the end of the tunnel,’ Jones said.
‘And I distinctly remember sitting down with my psychologist after 2011 when I had contemplated taking my own life.
‘I remember Lisa saying to me, she said there is light at the end of the tunnel. I was like, who bloody blew it out because I can’t see it, and I just feel like it’s never getting any closer, but extraordinarily it does.
‘And that light will always be there, but you just have to find it, and sometimes you do have to light it yourself.
‘It’s a lot of hard work. You do have to work through it, but the first thing is recognising that you may have a problem and that you may want to work through it. It is incredibly brave to go and seek help.
‘I personally, I’ve got a mental health care plan. I’m about to start with a psychologist on Tuesday. It’s all about taking that first step, getting in there, really digging deep.
Jones (pictured after breaking the world record for 100m breaststroke in Barcelona, 2003) has won nine Olympic medals, 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals and 23 national titles
‘It’s gritty, it’s awful, and it sometimes feels like it’s a waste of time. But trust me, it’s so worth it, because there is hope out there.’
The decorated athlete contemplated suicide in 2011 while she was on a training holiday in Spain.
But her coach at the time, and current Head Coach of Swimming Australia, Rohan Taylor, interrupted her and took her to get the help she desperately needed.
‘I did not care for my mental health whatsoever, because it was completely neglected and was not important, and even as a youngster, when I was coming up, I was told that we were not allowed to use psychologists, because psychologists were for weak athletes,’ she said.
‘So I was denied access to a psychologist as a 14-year-old girl who was going to her first Olympic Games.
‘And that was devastating to me, because I really could have benefited from talking about mental health, because I did not believe I was a weak athlete.
‘I believed I was very strong, but I just did not have that connection with strong mental health and a strong body. So that internal connection between mind and body is so important.’
Jones broke 14 individual world records, won nine Olympic medals, 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals and 23 national titles during her career.
