A campaigner talked about how he suffered from depression as a young man after coming out and facing childhood demons of bullying.
omhnaill Harkin (27) of Burt, Co Donegal, to the Irish independent Growing up in a rural community meant he had no references to understanding gay.
Domhnaill found happiness when he went to Dublin to study law at UCD, but he was “in the closet” and struggled to live as a gay man.
“At 22, I fell in love and I came out,” Domhnaill said. “My experience was very supportive, but so much of the stress and bullying of my childhood came back.
“I locked it so deep, but it all came back and I was very depressed and upset for a few months.
“For six or seven months I was always sad. One night my mother came down to see me in Dublin and I was so upset.
“She said I should get help. I was diagnosed with depression and prescribed medication and therapy.
“I slowed down for a few months and was on medication for a while. I re-centered myself, “Domhnaill added.
“After about a year, I came back and it was good, but it was a difficult time.”
Domhnaill, who is on the steering group of LGBTQ + charity, ShoutOut, said with Pride being celebrated this month, it was important to recognize that there is an ongoing issue for young people coming out.
“A lot of LGBTQ people deny who they are,” Domhnaill said. He recommended that they sign up with resources like ShoutOut.ie
Domhnaill, with ShoutOut, launches an LGBTQ + guide for parents and guardians on June 29th.
The guide has insights from former president Mary McAleese, senator David Norris and Dr Lydia Foy.