Paul Merson has spoken candidly about his experience with depression, in the hope that speaking out will help others address their own mental health.

Writing in his Daily Star column, the former Arsenal and England midfielder said that depression, gambling addiction and issues with drugs and alcohol had left him feeling at rock bottom 12 months ago.

“On Monday I’ll have been sober for a year. But this time last year, I wanted to kill myself,” Merson wrote. “I couldn’t go on any more. I just couldn’t see a way out.”

“It was only because of the kids really, and my wife, and a little bit of consciousness, that I didn’t,” Merson added. “When you’re in that place, you don’t see how it’s ever going to pass. But I have the tools now. If I get into a real down situation, I know it will pass.”

“I don’t want to kill myself any more. I don’t have those thoughts. I’m not carrying the world on my shoulders. I’m not beating myself up, drinking and gambling all the time and asking why I’m doing this to myself.

“It’s only now I know. I have an illness. I have a mental illness. I’ve accepted that now. Before, I used to beat myself up all the time, but the more you talk about it, the more it takes the power out of it.

“I’m telling you this because I hope it helps someone. If even one person reads this and it helps them, then it will be worth it.”

All FA Cup third-round kick-offs will be delayed for 60 seconds, in order to encourage those watching to ‘Take a Minute’ to consider their well-being.

The campaign, a collaboration between Public Health England’s Every Mind Matters, the FA and the Heads Up campaign, will include video messages played at grounds with footballers discussing their own mental health issues.

“When I see this weekend’s FA Cup games kicking off a minute later, I will remember that time when things got dark,” Merson wrote. “I will think: ‘Thank god that’s not how I feel any more.’”

The 51-year-old, who works as a pundit for Sky Sports, adding that staying sober and talking to other people has helped him move forwards.

“If I have one piece of advice to give to people – talk,” Merson wrote. “Nothing ever gets better if you don’t talk. Once you talk to people you start seeing the light. I ring people up and tell them if I don’t feel good.

“Before, I would literally watch people ringing me trying to help me, but I wouldn’t take the calls. It’s the worst place to be, having that fear that it’s never going to get better. You have to talk.

After the column appeared online, Merson tweeted on Saturday: “Thank you all for the lovely messages, they mean a lot to me personally. If I can help one person by sharing my story then in my eyes it’s a success. #oneyearsober #onedayatatime”

Merson, who was capped 21 times by England, revealed last March that he had suffered a relapse of his gambling addiction. Sky Bet were criticised for having featured Merson in ad campaigns despite his well-documented issues with gambling.

• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.

• In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.