Al Porter praised for tackling the stigma of depression

The revealing interview shows how the 23 year old Tallaght man came to understand his own symptoms.

"I've heard friends of mine like Bressie talk about it kind of thinking I can't really get where you are coming from and then I realised someone as confident as me, I'd tell people anything about myself - every detail. I'm an open book", he told the panel.

"I couldn't even admit, yeah I need those pills like, they're going to keep me balanced."

Despite being prescribed anti-depressants, Porter revealed was still very reluctant to disclose that fact and had only told his mother two hours before going on air on Cutting Edge that he was taking medication.

He also revealed that the stigma about depression made him too embarrassed to discuss it with his family doctor.

"So I went to a doctor, wouldn't even go to my own doctor. I went to a doctor in Carlow so I could do outside of Dublin.

"He said. `look you need anti-depressants' and I never thought that I would be that person. And nobody in my family would think that I would be that person."

The comedian received widespread praise on social media for his candid account of his struggles, including a pat on the back from fellow comedian Dara O'Briain who said "Well done Al Porter! Can't have been easy to talk about depression, but will hopefully help destroy that stigma."

You can listen to the full interview here: