MP highlights mental health plight in debut Commons speech
An MP has used his inaugural House of Commons speech to deliver a powerful message about his struggles with suicidal thoughts.
Stuart Anderson, the Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West, also opened up about the impact his children have had on his life.
Mr Anderson, who had a career in the British Army, told the Commons he turned to alcohol to block out issues that stemmed back to his time in the British Armed Forces as a 17-year-old, when he was accidentally shot in the leg by a fellow soldier.
Following his departure from the military, Mr Anderson became a bodyguard.
He told the Commons of his struggles during his time in the role.
In an effort to do something good for his children, he took them to church.
Stuart Anderson, who defeated Labour candidate Eleanor Smith to claim the Wolverhampton South West seat in the 2019 General Election with a 2,185 majority, reflected on his first speech in the Commons below.
If you are affected by the issues in this piece there are a number of helplines available:
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