Ken Skates, the new leader of Welsh Labour, recently discussed his long-term experience with anxiety and depression. In a candid interview, the Member of the Senedd for Fflint Wrecsam explained that his mental health struggles began in childhood and intensified during his time at the University of Cambridge.
Skates described feeling a profound sense of detachment during his university years, where he felt out of place and unable to relate to his surroundings. He recalled feelings of dissociation, often describing the experience as if he were dreaming his days away rather than living them. These symptoms eventually led to a formal diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder and depression.
Reflecting on his upbringing in Flintshire, Skates noted that he was an anxious child, motivated largely by a desire to avoid conflict and please others. He shared that witnessing the economic impact of closures at the Shotton steelworks, where his parents worked, significantly shaped his views and eventual path into politics. The industrial decline in his home region left him with a lasting sense of injustice.
Today, Skates manages his mental health through a combination of treatment and talking therapies. He credited these methods with providing him the tools to understand his condition and stay mindful of the triggers he has dealt with for decades. His openness comes at a time of significant political transition for his party following recent election results in Wales.
By speaking openly about his history, Skates joins other public figures in bringing attention to the reality of mental health conditions. He remains focused on his responsibilities in the Senedd while maintaining the strategies he learned through therapy to balance his personal well-being with his political work.