On the Wednesday, October 12 edition of “Tamron Hall,” television legend Kathie Lee Gifford opened up about her lifelong journey and commitment to her faith. During the in-studio interview, the Daytime Emmy Award winner discussed her close relationship with former co-host of 15 years, Regis Philbin. Gifford also spoke about discovering her late husband Frank after he had passed and touched on dating again.
Also on today’s show, David and Tamela Mann joined the show to talk about their upcoming “Overcomer” tour. In an emotional conversation, David opened up for the first time about his struggle with depression and why he decided to seek help.
Actor David Mann on realizing he was struggling with mental health:
“I just know one day I realized I don’t feel right and something is off. And the only way that I could find relief was I would go into my office and just go to sleep. And that’s the only time I just could feel good.”
David Mann on deciding to open up publicly about his battle with depression:
“Because of the stigma that we have on it as Black men, as a community. And quite honestly, I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed, I was ashamed because, you know, I’m David Mann and I make the world laugh. But once I started to see how much I could help people with my story of depression, because that is something that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”
David Mann on how he felt during his struggle and deciding to seek professional help:
“It’s like I was drowning, but no one knew I was drowning. The only way people were going to realize that I was…it’s touchy for me because I haven’t shared it with anybody. I said, the only way people were going to realize that I was drowning, is if I completely drowned. And I can’t say anything to anybody because I gotta make sure you’re fixed. I gotta make sure you’re good. I gotta make sure everybody’s good. And it just hit me and I was like ‘I need to see a therapist.’ But then I know the stigma for our neighborhood, you know – ‘You don’t need to go to no therapist. You ain’t going up there and telling nobody your business.’ He added, “And I prayed, and I prayed and when I got up I still felt miserable. Like I describe it, I say, if I was having a heart attack, they would’ve taken me to a heart doctor. If I had liver problems…I say so now I’m having some mental health issues, I need to seek professional help.”
