Jack Straw admits to experiencing depression

Jack Straw has admitted to experiencing depression as a result of political tension and illness in a candid new autobiography.

Summarised in the Daily Mail, the former home secretary describes how he first developed tinnitus in 1979 when the Labour party was wracked with in-fighting.

Pressures at work, his illness and emotional problems eventually developed into clinical depression, for which Mr Straw sought help.

By revealing his experiences with mental health, Mr Straw has once again brought the issue into the public eye.

This comes at a time when the UK is set to abolish the law that prevents those with a history of depression from taking office in the government and other powerful positions.

However, Mr Straw explains in his autobiography that there wasn't an immediate solution to his problems and the process of therapy took some time.

"Although at first I was highly resistant to the idea of anyone prying into my mind, I began going twice a week. It took me a while to recognise the value of what he was trying to do," he said.

Read about support and personalised care at Barchester care homes for anyone with mental health concerns.