Toto Wolff reveals help for 'mental suffering'

Mercedes

Wolff reveals help for 'mental suffering'

Mercedes' team principal has spoken out on his 'mental suffering'

Ewan Gale

Wednesday 16 March 2022 08:00

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has detailed his long-term 'suffering' from mental health issues.

Wolff has revealed he has been meeting with a psychiatrist for 18 years in order to help move past problems.

The stigma surrounding mental health is slowly being broken down in recent times, with individuals in F1 supporting their own causes to raise awareness for those struggling with the effects of the issues.

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Lando Norris and McLaren have been the most prominent advocates for mental health advances, partnering with charity 'Mind' and running numerous initiatives online to raise its profile.

Speaking to The Times, Wolff spoke of his own issues, stating: “I’ve been going to a psychiatrist since 2004, I think I’ve had more than 500 hours [of therapy].

"I have suffered mentally, I still do. Getting help is a way of overcoming my problems, and it has helped me to access untapped potential.

"I’ve never had any problem with the stigma. Some of the most successful people are very, very sensitive and very, very sensitive means very, very vulnerable.”

On how dark times have affected him, the Austrian explained: “Without going into too much detail, feeling depressed, feeling inadequate.

"Everything depends upon how you perceive yourself. High profile people who seem to have everything but are struggling, I think we have an obligation to say we’re getting help and it’s ok to get help.

In the past two years, gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka have famously withdrawn from competition and spoken out on the pressures of mental health problems.

Wolff praised both, adding: "[They] deserve a lot of credit for how they’ve spoken about this."