Russell on mental health: 'Is important to talk to someone'

George Russell, in a candid interview with Men's Health talked about how he works on his mental health. Among other things, the Mercedes driver talks about his own decision to see a psychologist and what treatment has meant to him.

For Russell, the decision to see a psychologist did not come naturally. In the interview, he said he only started working on this two years ago, two years after he made his debut in Formula 1.

"The moment when I thought ‘I need to seek professional help’ was when I had a really difficult race, I had a crash," Russell explained.

"It was a very low point in my career. And I thought I could just pick myself up from that moment, and I was picking myself up, but we decided to speak with a professional, and I was so grateful that I was advised to do that, because I came away from that conversation with him feeling so much better about myself and put those negativities to the side, lift myself up and I was ready to attack the rest of the day and the rest of the week."

'We all have moments when things take a turn for the worse'

Russell acknowledged that there is often still resistance to seeking mental help, but stresses that it is just as important to maintain your mental health as your physical health.

"The one piece of advice I would give someone struggling with their mental health is to not to be ashamed to talk to somebody. Whether that’s a friend, a colleague, or a member of your family, or to reach out to a professional. We all have our moments where we’re feeling a little bit down, a little bit low. But even when we’re not, I think talking to somebody, to almost have that mental maintenance, to just keep ticking over, to keep staying in that positive place, is so important."