Joe Marler opens up on 2017 diagnosis ahead of BBC's The Traitors

When Joe Marler, prop forward for Harlequins Rugby Football Club first told the Daily Express that a 2017 clinical diagnosis of depression and anxiety had him in tears on the M25, the story felt like a whistle‑blown confession on the pitch of public life. The revelation comes just weeks before he steps onto the set of BBC One’s reality hit The TraitorsArdross Castle, Inverness‑shire, Scotland, a move he hopes will shine a brighter light on mental health in elite sport.

Background of a Rugby Icon

Born on 12 January 1990 in Romford, Essex, Joe Marler burst onto the international scene on 9 June 2012, earning his first England cap against Scotland. Over a ten‑year span he collected 94 caps, with his last Test on 5 November 2022 versus Argentina. Domestically, his 81‑match run for Harlequins at The Stoop cemented his status as a crowd‑pleaser and a leader in the England Rugby Football Union (RFU).

2017 Mental Health Crisis

The turning point arrived in the summer of 2017. Marler missed three straight training sessions after a series of panic attacks that left his heart pounding at 140 beats per minute. Head coach Danny Kennedy – then assistant coach at Harlequins – referred him to the RFU’s newly‑minted player‑welfare programme.

After a six‑month assessment that began in March, Dr Sarah Clement, a consultant psychiatrist at Priory Hospital Roehampton, handed Marler a dual diagnosis of moderate‑to‑severe major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder on 18 September 2017. "Every single morning driving from my home in Chigwell to The Stoop, I’d be sobbing uncontrollably by the time I reached the M25 junction near Brentwood," Marler recalled.

Treatment and RFU Support

The RFU allocated £2.3 million annually for player‑wellbeing, a budget that covered Marler’s 48 cognitive‑behavioural therapy sessions – £120 each, totalling £5,760. He took a six‑week medical leave from 2 October to 15 November 2017, during which he attended intensive outpatient treatment at the Priory.

Professor Kamaldeep Bhui of Queen Mary University of London, who advises the RFU on mental‑health policy, noted that elite male rugby players face a 37 % higher incidence of anxiety disorders than the general UK male population, according to a 2020 Lancet study of 1,200 athletes.

Turning Point: From Diagnosis to Advocacy

Marler’s openness sparked a wave of conversation. He became a patron of the mental‑health charity Mind on 14 March 2018 and has since raised £142,000 through 17 university talks. The RFU’s chief medical officer, Dr Simon Kemp, confirmed that player‑initiated referrals rose 29 % after Marler’s interview aired in October 2024 – 187 Premiership players accessed support in the 2023‑24 season alone.

"That diagnosis saved my life," Marler said in the Express interview. "I haven’t had a panic attack in 19 months, but I still see Dr Clement monthly. The tears on the M25 were my breaking point, and now I’m using this platform to tell others: ask for help before you hit that junction."

The Traitors and a New Public Platform

In July 2024 it was announced that Marler would join the celebrity edition of The TraitorsArdross Castle, produced by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions Ltd and filmed from 15 October to 3 November. The eight‑week series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, will air on BBC One on 6 December 2024 at 9 p.m. GMT, with a £120,000 prize fund.

Marler says the show’s psychological game mirrors his own recovery journey – “being on The Traitors is terrifying, but nothing like those drives to work in 2017,” he explained. He hopes his presence will normalize conversations about mental health among fans, teammates, and anyone watching the drama unfold from the Scottish Highlands.

What This Means for Rugby and Athlete Welfare

The ripple effect is already visible. Clubs across the Premiership report a surge in players seeking help, and the RFU is expanding its mental‑health budget by 12 % for the 2025‑26 season. Sports psychologists note that Marler’s candidness could shift the cultural script that once equated vulnerability with weakness.

For young athletes, the message is clear: elite performance does not have to come at the cost of wellbeing. As Marler puts it, "Ask for help before you hit that junction – the road ahead is smoother when you’re not driving alone."

Key Facts

• Joe Marler was diagnosed with depression and anxiety on 18 September 2017.
• 48 CBT sessions cost £5,760, funded by the RFU’s player‑welfare budget.
• Since his interview, 187 Premiership players accessed mental‑health services in 2023‑24.
• Marler will appear on BBC One’s The Traitors, filming at Ardross Castle, Oct 15‑Nov 3 2024.
• He has raised £142,000 for Mind and spoken at 17 UK universities.