Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has recently disclosed in an interview with The Guardian and Metro that he has been battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The condition has arisen from the stress of his role as a Mayor of one of the world’s largest cities, threats, and dealing with disastrous events such as the Grenfell Tower fire and terrorism. He has been receiving counseling regularly, and compared his experience to the PTSD faced by refugees during his time as a human rights lawyer. He emphasized that his PTSD is “not the same,” and acknowledged his privilege while drawing attention to the “terrible” experiences of asylum-seekers.
The Mayor revealed that the lockdown, implemented to curb the spread of Covid-19, had a significant impact on his mental health, leading to a loss of focus and motivation. Khan described feeling like he had “lost his mojo,” adding that it was challenging to deal with the sudden change in pace after the multiple crises he had faced in the past. Even though the lockdown brought a decline in violence in London, it came at a cost, with Khan noticing a significant uptick in domestic violence cases in the city. The Mayor said that addressing people’s mental health is crucial for shaping public policy in the future, and he intends to make it one of his top priorities.
In the interview with The Guardian, Khan also spoke about the affordable housing crisis in London, with almost one in three 30-year-olds expected to continue living at home for the next decade. He emphasized the need to tackle the issue, saying it is unacceptable that people in their 30s are not able to buy their homes. London’s pollution crisis emerged as yet another challenge, which Khan believes will be the city’s next major problem, once the pandemic is under control.
The Mayor spoke about the death threats and interactions with Donald Trump, which left a lasting impact and caused a rise in death threats against him, especially after the 2017 Finsbury Park mosque attack. Despite everything, he remains committed to serving London citizens, intending to seek his third term as the Mayor and hopes to serve six terms in total.
In conclusion, Sadiq Khan’s openness in revealing his struggles with PTSD and mental health during lockdown can bring attention to the importance of mental health services and support that exists for individuals holding such high-stress positions. At the same time, by stating his intention to improve affordable housing and tackling the pollution crisis of London, he intends to make positive changes that will benefit the people of London in the future.
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