Sky Sports reporter Abigail Davies opens up about suicidal thoughts and battles with anorexia after revealing she visited a mental health facility before working the World Darts Championships in December

Sky Sports reporter Abigail Davies has opened up about her battle with suicidal thoughts and anorexia after revealing she had visited a mental health facility before the World Darts Championship.

Davies is a well-known face on the channel and is often broadcast live during football matches and darts events. He interviewed the players after Luke Humphries' victory over Luke Littler in this year's final.

The presenter decided to speak out about her mental health after the end of the latest tournament at Alexandra Palace, revealing that she had visited a mental health hospital in December to help her cope with thoughts of suicide and a battle with anorexia.

In a candid post on

'I went to The Priory the day before the (World Championship) started. Last (question) before I left: “Can you promise to keep yourself alive through Christmas?”

Davies – a familiar face at darts events and football pitches – said she was speaking out to help others who are 'in the same boat'

Davies spoke to Humphries on stage on Wednesday after his World Dart Championship win

'So yes, proud that I did what I had to do: deal with anorexia/suicidal thoughts. I'm posting this for anyone who is in the same boat. We have this.'

Davies started at Sky Sports in 2017 as a runner before working her way up to reporter and freelancing for BBC, ITV and talkSport.

She has been an avid advocate for mental health, having struggled with an eating disorder at a younger age.

In 2022, Davies posted a photo of herself working for Sky at a match in Swansea, which made her reflect on her difficulties as a teenager.

“I left a psychiatric ward for an evening to watch the Swans,” she wrote. '90 minutes of me being consumed by something other than anorexia/depression. From that night on, watching the Swans gave me a reason to fight… Today I cover them for Football Saturday. This means so much to me.'

Davies revealed she had left a psychiatric hospital in December, just before starting work at the World Darts Championships

Last summer, Davies was moved when former Gillette Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling gave an emotional message about eating disorders.

“Eating disorders are being swept under the rug,” he said in his impassioned speech. 'No one should die from an eating disorder in 2023. People with eating disorders need action and help, and they need it now.'

Davies said Stelling's message meant a lot to people suffering from eating disorders, saying it would be a huge help to people who are 'at a point of crisis'.

“I can't describe how amazing it is to have someone like Jeff talk so eloquently and passionately about such a topic, when it feels to me and many other patients that no one wants to listen, no one cares or has the time.” gives. of the day,” she said, talking to The mirror.

Davies has been a staunch advocate for mental health and praised the former Sky Sports colleague for speaking out about eating disorders last summer

“I think the fact that Jeff opened that conversation, and the response it got on social media and so many millions watching it, meant more to so many of us than he would have even known at the time,” Davies says.

“We are at a point of crisis right now, and I think all of this personally needs to be put aside. It just hits you when you see people being offered end-of-life care for a mental illness in 2023. I would have been one of those people.

'Someone has to stick their head above the ground and it seems to be Jeff. He uses his words to great effect and it was fantastic to see so many people from the football community wanting to help and get behind this cause.

“I've watched that video about ten times, and I've cried every time.”