Newly-elected Labour County Durham MP gives emotional speech about feeling 'overwhelmed' by online abuse

Labour MP Sam Rushworth has opened up about feeling "overwhelmed" since joining Parliament, leading a debate on International Men’s Day to shed light on male suicide and mental health issues.

The Bishop Auckland representative, who was elected for the first time in July, spoke of his experience visiting a South Durham charity where men openly discuss their problems.

Mr Rushworth shared: "The session started by each man taking turns to update the group on their week, beginning with saying how they feel on a scale of one to 10."

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He continued: "I sat listening, touched by the openness of those who were sharing and the non-judgmental kindness."

When it was his turn to share, he admitted to freezing briefly, contemplating his response. He questioned: "Do I quickly say something positive and move on?

"Or do I be honest and make myself vulnerable? Do I tell the truth that this week I’m a five, not quite rock bottom, but feeling little joy in life? "

He also confessed to feeling anxious and out of place in his new role, admitting that the online abuse MPs receive does affect him and that he often lies awake at night feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of meeting his voters’ expectations.

He concluded: "I did it. I shared where I feared that maybe these men might struggle to relate to me as a member of this place. I found understanding nods and expressions of appreciation."

Mr Rushworth took the opportunity during the backbench business debate to highlight the challenges men face, informing MPs that suicide has become the leading cause of death among men under 50.

He said: "May I be clear at the outset of this debate that International Men’s Day is not a call to diminish the importance of women’s rights, nor to overshadow the progress made in gender equality for all."

"Rather it is to recognise that gender inequality harms everyone, men and boys, as well as women and girls.

"Men are more likely to die prematurely, more likely to develop alcohol addiction, more likely to be homeless, more likely to take their own life, more likely to be sent to prison, but also likely to be a victim of violent crime."