BRAVE STARS
Loose Women fans praise show as stars break down in tears during emotional discussion about mental health
LOOSE Women fans have praised the show after its stars broke down in tears during a moving discussion on mental health.
Charlene White anchored today's episode, and couldn't hide her emotions as she reflected on struggling in the past - and the importance of asking for help.
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also sobbed as she reflected on her cancer diagnosis, Kelle Bryan opened up about her struggle with mental health when she was kicked out of girl group Eternal, and Judi Love spoke out on delayed grief after her mother passed away.
All four women spoke candidly about their struggles in a bid to comfort fans who may be suffering at home - powering through as they sobbed about their past pain.
Judi kicked off the segment, explaining: "I remember when my mum passed away, I was nine months pregnant, I'd split with my kids' dad all within a week and I had delayed grief about 10 months later. I just didn't feel right, I can't explain it but it was a really heavy, burden feeling."
She admitted that she "battled" the feeling for a while because she was "scared" of going to the doctor and asking for help, but after crying so much that she knew she couldn't continue with the feeling, she messaged her close friends and sister for help.
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Judi's voice cracked as she confessed that she was worried of "letting her mum or kids down" and that she was "afraid to show vulnerability", but the love and support she got back helped her to heal.
Kelle opened up about her financial struggle after being fired from girl group Eternal in 1998, with a coercive relationship "financially crippling" her.
The singer said that she felt "ashamed" to have ended up in a "financial crisis", and was too "embarrassed" to ask for help because she was worried about being laughed at or blamed for her problems.
She told viewers: "If you're too embarrassed to say 'I need help' because you feel like it's your own fault, people who are too embarrassed to speak out, I would encourage anyone to reach out.
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"If you feel like it's your fault or not, it isn't the point - the point is you need help."
Charlene was the first star to cry, despite her best efforts to hold in her tears as she discussed not feeling capable of being a mother.
She told her co-stars: "When I became pregnant with my first child I remember laying in the bath and just bawling my eyes out. This wave of: 'I'm about to become a mother and I don't have a mother as my mum isn't here anymore' - I realised I hadn't grieved properly.
"My mum died when I was 21 and I became pregnant at 36, so that's a long time but this wave of grief was suddenly all-consuming."
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On the advice of a friend, Charlene went to a therapist where she spent "three sessions crying and sharing memories of my mum", concluding: "When I finished those sessions suddenly this huge weight was lifted from me and it felt like I could now become a mother."
Brenda was already crying when it was her turn to speak, with her grief beginning aged four when both of her parents tragically died in a car accident.
However, it was when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2015 that she realised she needed help, with the "floodgates opening" after an unassuming friend asked if she was okay.
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Viewers at home were blown away by the emotional scenes, and flocked to Twitter to heap praise on the ladies for speaking so openly.
They also praised the ITV daytime show for the all-black Loose Women panel.
One wrote: "This is really emotional & powerful."
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Another added: "This episode got me. Having people that are trying to break that glass ceiling of racism and mental health! Well done @loosewomen".
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A third agreed: "Thank you for your conversation today #LooseWomen".
One more tweeted: "Omg everyone is crying on Loose Women!"
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
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