Once Promising Westmeath Jockey Speaking Out On Mental Health Issues Amongst Men

Paddy Merrigan also wants to target secondary school teenagers to help stem the problem.

A Jockey from Westmeath is hoping his comeback story can benefit young men in a similar situation and encourage them to speak out. 

Athlone's Paddy Merrigan left the sport in 2010 and eight years later weighed sixteen stone and was battling mental health issues.

The latest European Union ''Health at a glance'' report found that over 1 in 6 people in Ireland suffer from a mental health condition.  

Mr. Merrigan believes his maturity and focus on racing helped him through his problems:

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