Majella O'Donnell says speaking about mental health has given her 'real purpose'
Majella originally had turned the comments off her recent mental health videos to prevent nasty remarks from keyboard warriors, but after gaining over 20,000 followers, she decided to turn them on
NewsCelebsMental healthMajella originally had turned the comments off her recent mental health videos to prevent nasty remarks from keyboard warriors, but after gaining over 20,000 followers, she decided to turn them on19:29, 13 Jul 2026Majella O'Donnell says she feels like she is helping others with their mental health after seeing the strong responseto her recent videos. Thewifeof country music starDaniel O'Donnellhas been very open about her own journey with mental health difficulties and previously said she has suffered from depression since she wasin her late teens. She also recently spent ten weeks receiving inpatient treatment for her struggles. For the past month, she has been using her voice and platform in the hopes of helping people who are facing their own difficulties by reminding them that they are not alone in their battle with mental health. In the first video she uploaded to her Instagram page, she explained the concept, saying, "I've suffered from bad episodes of mental health, depression mainly, and anxiety, and I have learnt some sort of tricks along the way, or should I say, I've got some tools along the way to help me when I have periods, I suppose, of self-doubt and anxiety. I thought that maybe sharing it on social media might be a good thing to do. "She added that she would turn off comments on the videos to prevent anyone from leaving nasty remarks, as she tends to look at what 'keyboard warriors' are saying. But just two weeks into her videos aimed at destigmatising mental health struggles, Majella says she noticed her follower count had increased by over 20,000, and she decided to turn on comments for those who follow her. “It felt like I was talking into the wilderness. Without comments, I realised I didn’t know if the videos were helping people. But then, when I noticed the followers going up, I thought there must be something good happening here," she told the Irish Examiner. “People were saying, ‘Thank you for turning on comments, now I can tell you how much you’re helping me’. And I tell you, it’s given me a real purpose, because I feel like I’m really helping others. A 10-minute video every two or three days is actually touching somebody, and that’s just fantastic. ”Article continues belowHer videos, which she regularly uploads, now get hundreds of supportive comments and tens of thousands of views. They can all be found on her Instagram page at @majellaodonnell_If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, contact Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans. ie. Want tosee more of the stories you love from RSVP? To add RSVP as a preferred source of news on Google,simply click hereChoose RSVP Live as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value. Daniel O'DonnellMental health