Denise Welch Reveals 1975 Song Is About Her Post-Natal Depression

'It’s tough for me to listen to because it’s so heartfelt.'

Denise Welch has revealed one of the 1975’s songs is about her battle with post-natal depression.

The former ‘Loose Women’ star, who is mum to the band’s lead singer Matt Healy, has told of how he wrote the track ‘She Lays Down’ in tribute to his mother. 

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Denise Welch and son Matt Healy
Rex/Shutterstock

Denise has spoken openly in the past about how she suffered post-natal depression after giving birth to Matt in 1989, and turned to cocaine as a result. 

The lyrics in the song reference this, with lines such as, “She chose cocaine / But it couldn’t fix her brain”, and “She’s appalled by not loving me at all”.

Matt also sings about how she willed a plane she was on board to crash during one low moment, with the lyric, “She prayed that we fell from the sky / Simply to immediate the pain.”

Speaking to The Mirror about the song, which features on the album ‘I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’, Denise said: “That song is about my depression.

The star also opened up about living with a mental illness in an interview with BT.com, admitting she tries to eat well, stay active and uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to try and stay well. 

Useful websites and helplines:
  • Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
  • Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
  • Get Connected is a free advice service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@getconnected.org.uk
12 Stars You'd Forgotten Were 'Loose Women'
Karren Brady(01 of12)
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Long before she was answering to Lord Sugar, The Apprentice star Karren was letting loose on the ITV daytime show.

She was one of the original line-up of ladies, appearing on the first episode in 1999.

And while her stint was short-lived, ending just a year later, Karren returned to the panel for an anniversary special in 2017, along with the rest of the women who appeared on that very first show.
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Kerry Katona(02 of12)
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Back when she was Kerry McFadden (those were the days, eh?), the Atomic Kitten singer appeared as a panelist between 2003 and 2004.

She was only 23 when she joined the show, making her the youngest Loose Woman regular ever, and her sometimes naive outlook on life meant she often clashed with Sherrie Hewson, providing many hilarious moments.
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Nina Wadia(03 of12)
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She's best known for playing the opinionated Zainab Masood in EastEnders, but Nina offered up plenty of opinions of her own when she appeared as a series regular between 2005 and 2006. (credit:REX)
Gillian Taylforth(04 of12)
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Another EastEnder who graced the Loose Women panel was Gillian Taylforth – better known as Walford's Kathy Beale.

The actress enjoyed two stints as a Loose lady, first in 2006 and again in 2008.
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Cilla Black(05 of12)
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While the late Cilla will be remembered for her huge TV hits Blind Date and Surprise Surprise, her last regular TV gig was actually as a Loose Woman.

She appeared first as a guest anchor in 2009 and was invited back as a regular panelist between 2010 and 2011, returning for a final appearance in 2014.
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Sarah Millican(06 of12)
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In our humble opinion, Sarah's tenure as a Loose Woman was simply not long enough.

The comic only appeared as a panelist for less than a year in 2011, before leaving to concentrate on her stand-up career.
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Beverley Callard(07 of12)
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During one of her many breaks from Coronation Street, Beverley (aka Liz McDonald) took up a seat behind the famous desk in 2010. (credit:REX)
Kym Marsh(08 of12)
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While Kym has recently enjoyed a few turns as a guest panellist, many have forgotten her original stint as a regular on the show in 2005, back when she sported an interesting (if that's the right word?) set of hair extensions. (credit:REX)
Claire Sweeney(09 of12)
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The former Brookside actress enjoyed over two years on the panel back in 2003, and later returned for six episodes in 2010, and a further two in 2012. (credit:REX)
Sheree Murphy(10 of12)
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Sheree was a welcome addition to the panel in 2006, after she finished playing Emmerdale's much-loved Tricia Dingle. While she left in 2007, she later returned as a guest panellist for an episode in 2015. (credit:REX)
Claire Richards(11 of12)
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After the departure of many of Loose Women's biggest names in 2013 and 2014, Steps singer Claire made a string of guest appearances. She impressed bosses so much, she was soon promoted to a regular.

However, a massive revamp of the show in the September of 2014 saw her leave the show with no explanation.
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Jenny Powell(12 of12)
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The Wheel Of Fortune assistant was finally given a break from turning around letters on a board in 2004, when she joined the Loose Women panel for a year. (credit:ITV)