Kacey Ainsworth has spoken out in support of men with depression saying many turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.
The actress was on Loose Women chatting about Ant McPartlin’s shocking battle with addiction.
Read more: Coronation Street SPOILER: Major character to make explosive Christmas comeback
Kacey, who played ‘Little Mo’ in Albert Square, revealed her own partner had a very bad time suffering from clinical depression.
She revealed his depression had taken its toll on the family and has not been an easy battle.
“My partner has had clinical depression, and the way he describes it is he’s at the bottom of a big dark hole and he’s looking up, and everyone is throwing in ropes,” she explained.
“There’s people like his mum and dad, and brother and sisters, throwing down these ropes but he can’t get up and reach those ropes.”
The honest revelation followed Ant McPartlin recent interview about his stint in rehab and his very candid explanation that he was battling some very dark demons of his own.
The worry, the girls said, is that men don’t talk as freely as women about how they feel, and Kacey says that’s a worry for her.
She told the panel that her partner hadn’t told her or any of their family about his depression because he didn’t want to admit he had a problem.
“He didn’t tell anybody, he self-medicated,” she said, revealing the truth in many homes across the country.
She went on to imply that other men in her life have had a similar hidden problem, saying that in her experience men tended to cope with a “cocktail of drugs and alcohol”.
Fortunately, Kacey’s partner had people who loved him to continue throwing down those ‘ropes’ to help drag him back to a better place.
She said he had been brought to the brink of suicide but the thought of his family saved him and made him seek help.
It sounds like Ant is feeling stronger now thank goodness, thanks to his fans and supporters.
He tweeted on Sunday, thanking everyone for the warmth they showed after his private turmoil hit the headlines.
Read more: S Club 7 star has been in talks to join EastEnders
He wrote: “Have to say I’m overwhelmed by everyone’s love, support and well wishes today. Thank you one and all. I’m sending all my love back. A xxx”
Mental health is often covered on Loose Women, thanks to the show’s association with charity Mind.