Sadiq Khan says he does not want people to feel sorry for him
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has spoken about the impact of receiving regular death threats on his mental health.
Mr Khan told the Guardian that dealing with these threats and the aftermath of traumatic events, such as terrorist attacks, had a “cumulative” effect.
When asked if he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, the mayor said: “Undoubtedly. My best friend is a doctor and we talk about it together.”
A spokesperson for Mr Khan told the BBC: “The mayor is seeking to challenge the stigma around mental health.”
The spokesperson added: “By speaking openly about his own experiences and encouraging others to do the same, he is reminding Londoners that they are never alone.”
‘Mental health is fragile’
Speaking to the Guardian about his deteriorating mental health after death threats, disasters and terrorist attacks, Mr Khan admitted: “I lost my dynamism. I didn’t have clarity of thought. I wasn’t very bright. I didn’t inspire my team.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time with bereaved families, and that has an impact on your mental health. I’ve had help understanding PTSD.”
“Mental health is fragile if it is not taken care of. I shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it.”
He added, “I don’t compare what I’m going through with some of the things people go through.”
“As a lawyer, my clients with PTSD have been asylum seekers and refugees,” said Mr. Khan, 52. “I will never equate that with what I’m going through, and I never want people to feel sorry for me.”
Mr. Khan also spoke about his interactions with former US President Donald Trump on Twitter, which led to an increase in threats against him via social media.
Khan also spoke about the deadly attack on the Finsbury Park mosque in London in 2017, saying: “The terrorist was looking for me.”
He added: “He couldn’t find me, so he decided to target Jeremy Corbyn and Muslims.
Every time Trump says something horrible about me, there is an exponential surge of hate towards me on social media.”
“Then there are people who follow Daesh (Islamic State) and Al Qaeda who think you can’t be Muslim and Western. I get that from both sides in terms of the death threats.”
Khan, who belongs to the Labor Party, has been mayor of London since 2016 and will seek to secure a third term next year.
2023-05-20 16:05:34
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