Leigh Griffiths discusses his battle with depression | OneFootball

Last Wednesday, Leigh Griffiths completed an emotional comeback as he stepped onto the pitch for the first time since December.

Griffiths took a lengthy leave of absence to deal with depression and discussed how he hopes he can help others by speaking out.

“If something’s on your mind say it as ultimately I could be back in the same place and I don’t want to be,” he said.

“Looking at what’s happening in society nowadays, a lot of people are taking their own lives and, maybe if they open up and speak up a little bit, it can saves lives.

“It was very lonely at times and, without the help of the club, friends, family and support that I had, I wouldn’t be sitting here now.

“It has been a long and difficult road, but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“It was just a slow drip that was building up and [former Celtic manager] Brendan Rodgers has seen that and that’s when he stepped in, so it’s another thank you to him.

“Because, if he hadn’t stepped in, who knows where I’d have been?”

Celtic and Griffiths will face Estonian outfit Nõmme Kalju in the second round of Champions League qualifying on Wednesday.