Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard considered taking her own life when she hit rock bottom with depression earlier this year.
The actress – who plays Liz McDonald in the ITV soap – was signed off work for two months in March after she suffered a breakdown while filming her scenes for the show.
She has now admitted that her battle with the mental health condition was a lot worse than she’d let on to people.
Beverley opened up about the dark days of her depression, saying: “Me, a person with endless energy, was suddenly suicidal and unable to get out of bed.
Talking about your illness does help people who are suffering to know they are not alone.”
The 59-year-old star has had a lifelong battle with the illness but her collapse earlier this was exacerbated by a prescription problem.
Beverley ran out of her prescribed drugs when they were discontinued without warning.
This led her to spiral downwards in to a dark place.
She told her fans on Twitter at the time: “Been battling the demons of depression! One of the meds I’m on, has been stopped by pharmaceutical company, apparently it doesn’t make money I’m getting there!!!! Thanks so much for all your good wishes xxxx (sic)”
Read more: Corrie SPOILERS! Will Maria’s ‘life crisis’ lead to a lesbian affair with Caz?
In replying to fans on Twitter, Beverley revealed the anguish of her medication being stopped.
She revealed that it took two years to get the balance right with her drugs and then the funding stopped and she was left without.
Beverley was able to return to work in May after she tried out some new experimental drugs, which she believes to be working
She is now working as an ambassador for charity Mind to help educate people on mental health issues.