Wilson considered taking own life during childhood

Content warning: This article contains chat astir termination and intelligence health.

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has said shot was his "saviour", having contemplated taking his ain life arsenic a child.

The England international, 33, said astatine magnitude to nan High Performance Podcast, external astir his early life, including increasing up arsenic nan eldest of six children successful a single-parent family pinch a different begetter to his different siblings, spells successful foster care, receiving thief from foodbanks and his mother experiencing home abuse.

Wilson, who has precocious sought therapy to thief pinch nan trauma of his puerility experiences, said he had had "suicidal moments" astatine nan property of astir 12.

Asked really he stopped those thoughts, Wilson said: "I was truthful young. I was conscionable reasoning this can't beryllium each that life has to offer.

"There was much retired location for me. A higher powerfulness was calling maine and shot really was my saviour. It was my escape.

"My mum didn't drive, truthful I'd ever beryllium picked up by my Sunday convention coach. When I would time off my location environment, I was going into a family consciousness pinch my peers.

"My coach was fantastic. He had a bully family and they would sometimes get maine nutrient connected nan measurement home.

"I sewage that emotion and attraction that I astir apt wasn't getting arsenic overmuch astatine my location - that was not by prime and nary responsibility of my mum's. The situation was dictating who I was becoming. Football was what helped maine get distant from it all."

Wilson said he chose to activity therapy astir a twelvemonth ago, a determination stemming from an statement he had pinch a Newcastle physio during a gym session.

The physio, who noticed a alteration successful Wilson's temper and demeanour successful consequent days, suggested he would use from master help.

"What I've realised is erstwhile shot and life are going great, you tin artifact it out," added Wilson, who appeared for England astatine nan 2022 World Cup successful Qatar.

"I've had a play complete nan past 18 months wherever I've had setback aft setback, things conscionable sewage connected apical and fundamentally it was excessively overmuch to suppress. It each roseate to a caput and I was like: 'I request to activity therapy now.'

"I was astatine a constituent wherever I was starting to spell backmost down nan incorrect path, small things were creeping successful for illustration gambling, and I didn't want to go that personification truthful I needed master help.

"It took a spot of bravery to realise that arsenic beardown arsenic I consciousness my mind is astatine times, you besides tin speak. Even conscionable speaking to her [the therapist] was a awesome help."

Wilson began his profession astatine Coventry City and appeared successful nan Premier League for Bournemouth earlier joining Newcastle successful 2020.

His statement is group to expire later this summer.

In March, he was portion of nan Newcastle squad that won nan Carabao Cup - ending nan club's 70-year hold to triumph a home trophy.