Phillip Schofield has spoken about how his co-presenter Holly Willoughby has helped him through some recent mental health struggles.
On Thursday, the This Morning presenter led a discussion about mental health, following the news that the 2019 suicide rate among men in England and Wales was the highest it had been for two decades.
During the conversation, Phillip raised his own recent issues with his mental health, which he said he’d be speaking about more in “the next few weeks”.
“It’s surprising how you think you’ve got a grip on everything and suddenly your head takes you to dark and scary places,” he explained.
Revealing how those close to him – including Holly – had offered him support, he continued: “You say that loved ones can be instrumental in helping, and there’s no question I needed a lot of help in recent times with people who sit right beside me right now, who helped me enormously.
“Steph, my wife at home, my girls, my family… and loved ones can be instrumental in helping. I understand and realise that not everyone is as lucky as I am, to have sympathetic ears to listen to, or people that can even understand how you can help someone just by listening. But the first point surely has to be… reach out to the people that know you the best and hopefully you can find a rock that you can tie yourself to.”
Simon Cunning – the CEO of the mental health charity Calm – then noted that for those who don’t feel they have people they can talk to about their issues, “helplines and doctors are brilliant”.
At the end of the conversation, Phillip added: “I am not trained in any way, but all I know is that I’ve been to some fairly dark places in my head, [and] that when those clouds roll in… if you are patient, if you hang on, if you wait, then it is extraordinary how the clouds break up and a little bit of sunshine can come through.
“Don’t rush into judging your life because you never know where it might go quite quickly.”
Phillip has spoken numerous times about how Holly has provided support for him in his personal life, including at the beginning of this year, when he came out as gay.
When the two returned to This Morning earlier this month, they even shared a socially-distanced hug, with the help of a giant plastic sheet.
This Morning airs every weekday from 10am on ITV.
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).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.