Exclusive: Coronation Street's Beverley Callard on her mental health battle 'Depression is the curse of the strong'
BEVERLEY CALLARD TALKED CANDIDLY ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE OF DEPRESSION
Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard has spoken openly about her experiences of depression to encourage people with mental health issue to start a conversation and help those who want to support loved ones.
'I think it’s important you talk about [having depression],’ Beverley said. ‘But I think it’s really difficult for the person you are talking to about it.’
'Some people back off because they're afraid of it,' Beverley said. 'Most friends were fantastic. Certainly this one [Coleen Nolan] was fantastic. But a couple of really good friends totally backed away. I think because she maybe had symptoms and she was worried that the same thing might happen to her.'
As for people in the TV industry being supportive, Beverley said. ‘Most people were yeah. Of course there’s always a couple who are negative. I’ve mentioned it before - One person in our industry said “Well, you know, you’re probably not gonna work again. Because you’ve had clinical depression you might be flaky and unreliable".'
‘And of course, you’re not. I think depression is the curse of the strong in a way,' Beverley said. 'You’re anything but flaky and unreliable. Sometimes your mind just works against you, like your appendix or tonsils or whatever.'
For information on Loose Women's Lighten The Load campaign and mental health helplines click here.