The most recent instalment of I’m A Celebrity… hit our screens last night and there was some pretty deep chat around the campfire. Open and frank discussions on mental health have been welcomed and celebrated this year.
However, there is still a taboo on the issue of suicide.
It is for this reason contestants Iain Lee and Rebekah Vardy (our queen) have been praised for their honest discussion on mental illness. During the show, radio host Iain described his role to a curious Stanley Johnson and explained that his talkRADIO show features a lot of chat on mental health.
As Iain pointed out, suicide is the biggest killer of young men aged 25 and above. Joining the conversation, Rebekah shared that she had attempted take her own life at the age of 14 and did not receive any help from the experience.
Although a difficult subject to talk about, viewers have nothing but praise for the pair on their conversation. Talking about mental health struggles is one clear way of ending discrimination and opening the doors for better mental health care.
Support filled the camp during the chat, with Stanley saying her experience broke his heart. It is refreshing to see the celebrities talking about events and feelings that everyone can experience at any point in their life – mental health problems don’t discriminate.
If you have been affected by the discussion on I’m A Celebrity… support is there for you. Contact Young Minds, ChildLine or Samaritans.
