Loose Women viewers have lavished praise on Iain Lee for openly discussing his depression and mental health on today’s Loose Women.
The talkRADIO host was a guest on Thursday’s show talking about his I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! experience – which included struggling at times with being around so many other people.
And fans of the show called Iain “brave” and “inspirational” for being honest about his feelings, taking medication and seeking help from The Samaritans.
“I have talked about [mental health] a lot,” he said.
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“You see a psychiatrist before you go in and I saw my own psychiatrist before I went in. I see him maybe a couple of times a year but I wanted to chat to him about the ramification of possibly doing it.
“I’m on medication, which I’m kind of hoping to cut down in the New Year.
“So I was as strong as I felt I could be going into that environment.”
Jane Moore said it was “so nice to hear a bloke being so open and not feeling that there is any shame in it.”
Iain, 44, then admitted he felt “a little bit embarrassed” talking about his mental health, prompting the Loose Women panel and viewers to assure him he shouldn’t feel that way at all.
Many said it was inspirational and brave to discuss his mental health in the public arena, and said he was helping break the taboo surrounding men and mental health.
Iain said speaking out was important to him, saying: “I do a radio show on talkRADIO and that’s kind of why I went in, to tell people about the radio show.
“In the last six months we’ve had at least two men kind of connected with the show take their own lives. Every time it’s a shock. People – men and women – are dying because of mental health, and they don’t need to.”
“I’ve called The Samaritans – they’re brilliant and free. And they just sort of relieve the pressure,” he added.
Iain also spoke about the “warning signs” for his depression: “If I can’t get out of bed, if I’m continually crying. It’s a physical thing, I feel like I’m weighed down, and when I start to get like that I know I’m in trouble and need to reach out.”
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When asked if it’s very often, he said: “I can’t answer that question. No, it’s not been for a while, but it’s certainly happened this year.
“There have been times when I’ve felt suicidal. There is a difference between feeling suicidal and actually going on to do it. There is that hopelessness and thinking everyone in my life would be so much better if I wasn’t here.”
Viewers took to social media in droves to praise Iain for discussing his mental health and wish him well.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.