Watch: Online abuse led to therapy – Cole-Hamilton

The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alex Cole-Hamilton, has talked about his decision to seek therapy for abuse he has received online.

“I’ve been receiving therapy for probably the last two and a bit years. Because this is an intense job under constant public scrutiny,” the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader told BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show.

He said he was grateful his party had been paying for him to have therapy to help him “unpack the stresses and strains of this job”.

Mr Cole-Hamilton added: “I think really over the last five to ten years the situation, the eco-system in Scottish politics has deteriorated, where abuse is very personal, sometimes it’s in the street.”

The Edinburgh Western MSP also said he feels it is important he is open and honest about receiving therapy and encouraged those who might be struggling to “reach out and talk”.