Ken Skates, the newly elected leader of Welsh Labour, has opened up about his long-standing battle with anxiety and depression. Skates, who grew up in Mold, Flintshire, stated that his early experiences were shaped by the industrial decline following significant job losses at the Shotton steelworks, where both his parents were employed. This environment instilled in him a strong sense of injustice, which he attributes as a catalyst for his entry into politics.
His mental health challenges became notably apparent during his time at Cambridge University. "Where I went was unfamiliar to me, it was like nowhere I'd ever been before, and there were practices and behaviours that were completely alien to me," Skates recalled. He described feeling out of place, noting, "I'd never worn a jacket before, or a blazer, let alone a gown." The experience of attending social events like wine tasting in this new environment exacerbated his feelings of not belonging.
Skates began to experience dissociation, a symptom linked to anxiety and depression, which he described as a feeling of detachment from himself and reality, likening it to "dreaming your day away."
Despite early difficulties in seeking help, he was eventually diagnosed and prescribed antidepressants. However, he emphasized that his anxiety had been present long before this diagnosis. "Actually growing up, I was incredibly anxious. Really anxious," he said, explaining that he was "always keen to please" and had a strong need to avoid conflict.
When asked if these feelings persist, Skates confirmed they do, but he is "very mindful of it." He credited talking therapies with helping him understand his condition and develop management strategies, calling them "a game changer."