Majella O’Donnell Opens Up About Her Mental Health Struggles in Powerful Interview
In a candid and emotionally charged appearance on The Claire Byrne Show on RTÉ One, Majella O’Donnell—wife of renowned singer Daniel O’Donnell—laid bare the raw realities of her ongoing battle with depression.
Her words weren’t just personal—they were a pointed critique. Earlier this week, Majella unleashed a passionate condemnation of Ireland’s mental health system, following a distressing incident where a close friend was told she wouldn’t receive mental health care until the following year.
“I live with depression,” the 56-year-old shared, her voice steady yet laden with urgency. “When you’re in that place… your own mind turns on you. It becomes the cruelest voice in the room. No one else can tear you down the way you can when you’re drowning in that state.”
She continued, highlighting the confusing maze of mental health services: “Psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist—I honestly don’t know the difference. Who do you see first? Where do you even begin? People need to understand this stuff before they’re in crisis, not while they’re on fire.”
Majella’s brutally honest words resonated deeply online. Across social media, users praised her courage and clarity, hailing her as a voice that cuts through stigma and speaks directly to the heart of a national crisis.