It's a rubbish way to live- Iain O'Brien

Former New Zealand fast bowler Iain O'Brien reveals his battles with depression, how he is coming to terms with the illness and the road ahead. He opens up to Aaron Lawton in the Sunday Star Times.

O'Brien doesn't want to be a poster child for depression. He doesn't want to be a martyr, a role model or remotely like Kirwan. He doesn't want your pity either.But in talking today, on his 35th birthday no less, he hopes that his message might reach out to someone who, like him, has put off seeking the help they so desperately need.

"I don't want to be one of those statistics. I don't want this to fester away either. I've never been quite that low but I've certainly been on the way to being that low. I don't want to deal with that. I don't want my wife and my daughter to deal with me like that.I want to be sweet. I want to enjoy this. I don't want to miss out on what we've got."