Humza: My marriage break up left me nearly in a state of breakdown

Humza Yousaf has revealed he was nearly ‘in a state of breakdown’ after the collapse of his first marriage.

The First Minister admitted that he sat crying on his couch and didn’t eat or drink for twenty-four hours after splitting from first spouse Gail Lythgoe in 2016.

But Mr Yousaf additionally revealed he didn’t inform Nicola Sturgeon of his psychological anguish as a result of he feared he would lose his job.

Opening up on the size of his psychological well being battles on the podcast The Rest Is Politics, he stated: ‘I remember that I knew I needed help. 

I was transport minister, my first marriage had broken down, it was a really tough time I was having, it was in the middle of difficult weather, transport minister is always a difficult job, and yeah, I didn’t actually really feel I had anyone to show to.

The First Minister admitted that he sat crying on his couch and didn’t eat or drink for twenty-four hours after splitting from first spouse Gail Lythgoe (pictured collectively) in 2016 

Yousaf admitted he felt there was a stigma round psychological well being and didn’t talk about the matter with then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon or different colleagues as a result of he apprehensive about shedding his job as transport minister. Pictured: With Gail Lythgoe

Mr Yousaf remarried in 2019 to Nadia El-Nakla (pictured collectively in 2023) and spoke of how he helps shield his psychological well being by ‘drawing boundaries’ 

‘And I remember actually just a whole day passing, I literally did not move from the right hand side of my settee. 

For a whole 24 hours, I didn’t transfer, didn’t stand up to drink water, didn’t go to the bathroom, didn’t eat something.

‘I remember just almost being in a state of breakdown, crying and upset, and not really understanding what I was upset at. 

But then at that point, 24 hours later, knowing I needed help.’

But he admitted he felt there was a stigma round psychological well being and didn’t talk about the matter with then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon or different colleagues as a result of he apprehensive about shedding his job as transport minister.

He stated the primary individual he contacted was a good friend who was a psychiatrist and was instructed he ought to speak to somebody who may ‘really talk through the issues that you’re coping with’.

Mr Yousaf stated: ‘I never spoke to Nicola about it, I never spoke to any of my colleagues about it.’

Asked by presenter Alastair Campbell if he felt there was a ‘stigma’ that meant a politician looking for assist was an issue, he stated: ‘One hundred per cent. 

He admitted that for a whole 24 hours, I didn’t transfer, didn’t stand up to drink water, didn’t go to the bathroom, didn’t eat something. Pictured: With ex spouse Gail Lythgoe (left) mom Shaaista and pop Muzaffar (rear)

Yousaf stated that together with his second spouse he ‘attracts boundaries’, equivalent to by discovering some household time on a Monday night and at occasions throughout the weekend

I really thought in the event that they find out about it I cannot be in a job.

‘Now, I don’t suppose that might have been the case, Nicola would have been completely understanding, as would my authorities colleagues. 

John Swinney, who I’ve all the time been near, I believe these individuals would have been very understanding.

‘But it was just you didn’t hear about ministers with psychological well being challenges. 

If they’d psychological well being challenges, they left the job, and I didn’t really feel like I needed to go away at that time.’

He stated he didn’t inform household however a good friend really helpful a reliable psychological well being specialist who may communicate to him concerning the problem and assist him ‘take some time out’.

Mr Yousaf stated it was ‘the best thing I did’ – and admitted he ought to discover time to ‘check in’ with a counsellor once more given how traumatic his job is.

Mr Yousaf remarried in 2019 to Nadia El-Nakla, and spoke of how he helps shield his psychological well being by ‘drawing boundaries’, equivalent to discovering some household time on a Monday night and at occasions throughout the weekend. 

He additionally stated he’s ‘hurt’ by the breakdown in his relationship with Alex Salmond.

Describing Mr Salmond as the explanation he joined the SNP, he stated: ‘I feel the breakdown in the relationship with Alex is a matter of not just regret but I feel quite hurt about it all. 

Someone I looked up to now spends a fair bit of his time laying the boot into the SNP and trying to damage me.’

On Ms Sturgeon, he stated: ‘I’ve all the time had that deep affection for Nicola. I fear about her to an extent as properly, I imply she is coping with rather a lot as we find out about.

‘There’s sure components who’re looking for to attempt to tarnish her fame.’