A brave rugby leaguelegend has made an emotional admission about how he went into rehab to deal with serious mental health issues. Former England and Great Britainstar James Graham decided to go public with his ordeal. The ex St Helens prop spoke frankly about his mental health battles and his alcohol abuse.

Sharing his story on a podcast he said he hoped to encourage other men to seek help. He added: “This last 12 months has been particularly hard, there’s probably a number of different reasons why that’s happened.

“Not many people know about this … I made the decision to go to rehab. When I said I was away on holidays, I was a week in a facility for mental health. Which wasn’t long enough.”

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He urged anyone who is struggling with issues to seek help. “I can’t recommend it highly enough,” he said. “I had a really good short term fix for me, I felt like a new person.

"Was so nerve wracking going in, in the week I spent there I felt like I learnt so much and started to see things differently, but I’ve started to slip back into old habits.

“Unnecessary drinking and abuse of alcohol.” Graham, 40, explained how a message from his childhood friend “hit him between the eyes” after a day or two of no contact following a boozy night out.

“My best mate from school, we talk every day,” Graham explained on The Bye Round podcast. When I was away on the tour recently and having a decent drinking ‘sesh’, I go off my phone, and the next time we spoke he said something that hit me between the eyes.

He said: ’Lad, I actually genuinely worry you’ve done something when I don’t hear from you’.” His friend expressed concern he’d taken his own life. “I’d never do that,”

Graham continued. And I think that’s important to know, and he knows that too, but I think to hear your friend say that (is eye opening).” He has previously opened up about his struggles with anxiety, depression and a destructive pursuit of perfectionism.

But he has sought more help over the past 12 months since slipping back into old habits. In a powerful admission of his hidden battle, Graham spoke of his ongoing struggles for stimulation and structure which were masked by his 17-year long career in professional sport.

After speaking about it at mental health events and receiving positive feedback, he decided to bring the conversation to a wider audience. He now has a successful career as a commentator in Australia.