Labour MP John Woodcock admits he is seeking help for depression

Woodcock says depression regularly leaves him 'barely able to get out of bed' and was inspired to go public by another MP

John Woodcock said he was prescribed antidepressants 'to relieve my black moods'. Photograph: Helen Maybanks

Labour MP John Woodcock has admitted he is seeking help fordepression, which regularly leaves him "barely able to get out of bed".

The MP for Barrow and Furness in Cumbria published a blogpost on his website on Wednesday in which he said he went to a doctor last week and was prescribed antidepressants "to relieve my black moods".

Woodcock said he was inspired to go public with his illness after deriving "such strength" from the way another Labour MP, Kevan Jones, talked about his depression in public, as well as the former spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

The 35-year-old father of two, who has been an MP since 2010, has had a terrible run of luck, by his own admission.

Last year he fell off a ladder and bumped his head, causing long-term health issues and earning him the nickname "parliament's Mr Bump". Then he was assaulted on a train after challenging a man about his racist behaviour. He'd already done his knee in running for a vote and ended up on crutches.

"All of this was a bit embarrassing but nothing to hide away or be ashamed of. Hell, I even agreed to let my local paper, the North-West Evening Mail, come and take a picture of me in hospital after my ladder escapade," wrote Woodcock on Wednesday.

He added: "So, because brilliant, inspiring people have had the courage to speak up and make the case that my latest ailment shouldn't be treated any differently from these physical injuries, I am just going to come right out and say that I am clinically depressed. I went to see a doctor this week who prescribed me medication to relieve my black moods.

"I am very much hoping that my constituents and fellow parliamentarians won't notice much of a difference from me popping pills. I have mostly managed to avoid moping about like Eeyore up until now, and am assured that the anti-depressants I am taking will not induce any inappropriate 'you're my best mate' euphoria in the House of Commons chamber."

Recovering from the ladder incident had taken a "painfully long time", he wrote, adding that there are "regular periods when I am left utterly drained by simple tasks and barely able to get out of bed – and that exhaustion can make me really down".

He said he had been inspired by Labour colleagues to be upfront about his depression: "I have decided to make all this public because I derived such strength, though I never told them, from the way that my friends Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for North Durham, and Alastair Campbell have talked about their battles with depression. Their decision to be open and make a contribution to ending the stigma around mental illness has made it possible for me, despite the job I am lucky enough to have, to go and ask a GP for help. And so I want to make my contribution to tackling the stigma too, not just getting treatment for depression but being prepared to talk about it."

Woodcock said he'd taken anti depressants twice before – once as a student and once after his sister died 10 years ago: "They helped me get through those difficult periods then and I really think they will now too, not by changing my personality but in lessening the despair that sometimes comes when I have no energy."

In the blogpost, he admitted he was worried at the reaction to his admission.

"I will be the MP for Barrow and Furness for as long as my constituents want me, and I hope to serve my country in any way that I can. And yes of course I am worried about what people will think of me declaring that I will be representing them while taking anti-depressants (not least, I remember the outrageous way that Gordon Brown was asked the question by Andrew Marr during an interview at his final Labour conference as prime minister). But I really don't think it need be a big deal. And if it does turn out to be, well at least I might make it a bit easier for next person who is in the public eye feeling like this."

Woodwock received instant support from colleagues. "Outstanding MP, good man, good friend and good luck," tweeted Jamie Reed, MP for the neighbouring Copeland constituency. Jonny Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde in Greater Manchester, said he was "really proud" of Woodcock.

Kate Stringer, head of communications at Time to Change, England's biggest mental health anti-stigma programme, run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, said: "It is incredibly encouraging to hear that John Woodcock has felt able to talk publicly about his mental health problem. John also says that hearing other people share their experiences, including those in high profile positions, has helped him to speak out about his depression, which is a really positive sign. We are now beginning to see more parliamentarians feel able to discuss their mental health problems openly without fear of discrimination and we want people from all walks of life to be able to do the same."