Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe, renowned for his mental strength on the field, tragically took his own life at the age of 55 after a prolonged battle with depression and anxiety, his wife Amanda has revealed. Despite being surrounded by a loving family and having access to various treatments, Thorpe’s condition deteriorated significantly over the past two years.’Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not get better,’ Amanda Thorpe stated. ‘He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him and we are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life’.Thorpe’s struggle with mental health issues had become severe, leading to a serious suicide attempt in May 2022 that resulted in a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit. Despite showing glimpses of recovery, he continued to suffer from severe bouts of depression and anxiety.The family is now courageously speaking out about Thorpe’s struggles to raise awareness about mental health issues and reduce the stigma surrounding them. ‘We are not ashamed of talking about it,’ said his eldest daughter Kitty, 22. ‘There is nothing to hide and it is not a stigma’.Graham Thorpe had an illustrious cricket career, playing 100 Tests and 82 one-day internationals for England between 1993 and 2005, amassing over 9,000 runs in international cricket. He later transitioned into coaching, serving as England’s batting coach between 2010 and 2022.Former England captain Nasser Hussain shared a poignant tribute, recalling how Thorpe had been a pillar of support during his own challenging times. ‘He was there during my darkest moments when I doubted myself as a player, when I doubted myself as a captain, when I wanted to pack it all in. He was always there’.The family is considering launching a foundation in Thorpe’s name to raise awareness of mental illness. They emphasize that mental illness is a real disease that can affect anyone, even those who appear mentally strong.If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please seek help. In the UK, you can contact the Samaritans at 116 123.
Key points
- Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe took his own life at 55 after battling depression and anxiety.
- Thorpe’s family is speaking out to raise awareness about mental health issues and reduce stigma.
- Despite his reputation for mental strength in cricket, Thorpe struggled with severe mental health issues in recent years.
- The family is considering launching a foundation in Thorpe’s name to raise awareness of mental illness.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree on the details of Thorpe’s struggle and death, the Economic Times reports that ‘The reasons for his depression and anxiety, along with the reason for what triggered his death, is still unknown,’ which contradicts the more detailed accounts provided by other sources.
