Mark Allen opens up on mental health in emotional statement following troubling TV interview

Mark Allen opens up on mental health in emotional statement following troubling TV interview Mark Allen has opened up on spending 10 weeks in a mental health clinic before returning to play at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, sharing a candid statement after a difficult live TV interview. Snooker star Mark Allen has disclosed that he spent 10 weeks in a mental health clinic before making his comeback in Belfast. The 2026 World Championship semi-finalist made his return on Tuesday before admitting that he could now walk away from the sport in a troubling television interview. Allen, 40, suffered defeat at the Northern Ireland Open to close friend, Jordan Brown. It marked his return to play following his agonising semi-final defeat earlier this year, but it has now emerged he discharged himself from a clinic so that his daughter could see him in action for potentially the last time. The Pistol revealed in a post-match interview that he anticipated walking away from the sport and told TNT Sports: "At the minute I'm just trying to survive." Make sure you don't miss sport's biggest stories and breaking news by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources. The Northern Irishman appeared visibly distressed during the live television interview and, following his tournament exit, released a statement explaining why. Allen gave his thanks to everyone who had offered support and confirmed that he would continue treatment for his mental health. "A statement on yesterday..... Everything I said in that interview was true," Allen posted on social media. "However, rest assured I'm doing my best to turn things round. "I have been in a mental health clinic for the last 10 weeks, finally discharging so I could attempt to play in Belfast I owed that to my family, in particular my daughter to see me play for what could be the last time.... "I also owed it to the fans who have supported me throughout my 21 years on tour I also owed that to World Snooker who have been amazing from day on in all this, in particular Simon Brownell and Neil Tomkins who have remained in touch regularly, even Simon paying me a visit in the clinic itself. ". "I'm not ok, but I'm ok in that itself. I've been much worse in the last few months than you saw yesterday. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page "I literally didn't see a future in anything.... My daughter kept me going, the therapists, staff and all the other patients were amazing and helped me through some really dark days I see the light now that I couldn't see before but I do now. "I also know it won't happen overnight. I'm a work in progress!!! "My fight and determination on the table has always been there for ones to see. I need to show those same fighting qualities off it now for a while. "Please don't detract anything from Jordan yesterday, he's been aware of my struggles and that can't have been easy to play in but he handled it with grace and skill as I knew he would. I'm proud to call him a friend. "However, rest assured I'm doing my best to turn things round... I hope the rest of the event is a success and I will continue my treatments going forward and then see what's ahead Thank you to every single message I have received on here, Instagram, Facebook, text messages and WhatsApp's, I've seen them all but a bit overwhelmed to reply right now. Just know that they have helped me a lot but I'm not going anywhere just yet!!!! "I have so much to live for and this is only the beginning of my new journey Also, I was not made to do any interviews, I was simply given a choice and felt I owed it to everyone to speak. The media team at WST have been incredible through all this too. Thank you all x". Following his win, Brown said that facing Allen was "easily the hardest match" of his snooker career. On Allen, he added: "I've missed him, I love him, just a great guy through and through. ". While Brown continues his campaign at the Northern Ireland Open, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Selby have already departed the Waterfront Hall tournament, along with Allen.