Bressie speaks out about Robin Williams and his own mental health struggles

Voice of Ireland judge, Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin, 33, has spoken of his sadness at the death from suicide of actor Robin Williams, 63, and has urged men with mental health problems to continue to seek help.

The former Leinster rugby player and Blizzards frontman who has spoken publicly of his own mental health difficulties says mental health problems can be managed successfully in most cases.

He tweeted: “This morning, a close friend of mine sent me a text regarding the tragic death of Robin Williams. He questioned my beliefs that if you seek help, mental health issues can be managed and dealt with in most cases. With physical health, in the majority of cases, the issues can be treated and cured, but sometimes people lose this battle and it’s no different for mental health. Those who seek help can find ways of managing their issues, but sometimes, like with physical health, people can lose this battle.”

He added: “One of the hardest, yet most liberating things a person can do is admit they are not emotionally invincible. After that initial step of admission, many avenues and roads open that can help lead you to a much stronger place.”

Also commenting on Robin Williams’ death, 2fm DJ Dave Fanning, who interviewed Williams twice in Dublin and New York, said he was the “best improvisational guy” and that he once spent 20 minutes in a room with him while he was having his make-up done and “everyone was on the floor from laughing”.

“He was the one doing all the impressions. He’s just a live wire, plug him in and off you go — it doesn’t matter what question you asked him.

“He just kept riffing on anything,” Fanning said.

He also said the actor could “really dig deep” even when doing comedy. He said there was “an awful lot of pathos there”. The actor never shied away from being honest with issues like his alcohol and cocaine addiction, Fanning said.

Movie buff, Fanning praised the deceased actor’s movie career, describing his acting in Dead Poets Society as Williams’ finest. His appeal continued to this day he said, with kids still getting a kick out of Mrs Doubtfire.

And Majella O’Donnell, wife of singer Daniel O’Donnell has urged people suffering from depression to ask for help in the wake of Williams’ death.

Majella has bravely spoken about her own battle with the condition and how she too wanted to take her own life.

Majella tweeted: “Some of the most talented and successful people suffer from depression. Never be afraid to ask for help. You are not alone.”

The mum-of-two revealed how she ended up on a toilet seat in a hotel clutching rosary beads trying not to think about killing herself. It was only an appeal from husband, Daniel to go back on her medication that helped Majella to recover. She revealed it was Daniel who came to her rescue leading with her to go back on her medications.

“He said: ‘Please go back on them and don’t ever come off them again.’ I don’t think I will. I think that’s it for life.”

Williams was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar on three occasions, and took home an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance for Good Will Hunting in 1997. His publicist said he had been suffering from severe depression recently.

Williams, who was most recently in the comedy The Crazy Ones until it was cancelled after one season in May, had entered a rehabilitation centre this summer to help him maintain sobriety.