'I want to give back after mental health journey'

Lee Jobber has started volunteering with mental health charities

"I now have a focus, I have a purpose," says Lee Jobber as he reflects on his journey through a mental health crisis.

The 45-year-old is known to thousands of Leicester City fans through his 20-year stint as a drummer on matchdays at the King Power Stadium.

In 2022, Lee, from Braunstone, said he started having "really negative thoughts" and attempted to end his life in 2023.

He told the BBC he had been through some "dark places", but after receiving support he now has a "clear head" and is volunteering with mental health charities.

"All I want to do now really is to give back," he said.

Lee said he started attending Andy's Man Club, a charity which provides a safe space for men to talk about their emotions, in May.

Within a few weeks he was approached by the club lead to run sessions himself.

"I had a bit of a tear right there," he said.

"I thought 'Wow, I'm I'm in a position that somebody else wants to hear me speak'."

Lee Jobber was known for drumming at the King Power Stadium

Lee said he had some "great times" through the fame he gained through drumming at the King Power Stadium between 2003 and 2023, but added: "I've always tried to hide behind this big character.

"I could hide behind whatever mask you needed me to wear.

"But I didn't know where I fitted in myself. I could go and help Joe Bloggs, I could go and help his brother.

"The one person I couldn't help was myself.

"It got to a point where I couldn't say 'no' to anybody, and I was getting really low with it."

'Dark place'

Lee said he had spent all his adult life obese and weighed 36st (228kg) at his heaviest.

In 2021, he had gastric bypass surgery abroad and after the operation his weight dropped to 12st (76kg).

But he felt "mentally and physically poorly" at that weight and said after his surgery he did not recognise who he was and removed the mirrors in his house.

"Anyone who asked what my name was, I used to say Jobber. I was quite proud to be Jobber.

"Then it became Lee, because I totally lost myself."

"I didn't like who I'd become, I was just in a dark place."

Lee tried to end his life in 2023 and recovered at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire in Walsgrave.

It was 12 months later that he began to attend recovery meetings.

He said he is now "quite happy sitting in my own skin" and is now at a consistent weight he is comfortable with, adding his health is "a lot better".

Lee has urged anyone struggling with their mental health to speak to someone.

"If you're struggling please, please reach out because I wish I'd have reached out more," he said.

Chris McMinn, a facilitator at Andy's Man Club in Leicester, said the charity was supporting about 30 to 40 men on a weekly basis and was looking to expand in the future.

If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.