Nicola Roberts has opened up about her mental health, and said she 'wouldn't be where she is today' without having therapy.
The 36-year-old took part in a new NHS campaign focusing on mental health and wellbeing, alongside Craig David, Max George and Laura Mvula.
In the poignant video the famous faces read out the lyrics of The Beatles’ 1965 hit Help! urging people to seek professional advice if they’re struggling with anxiety or depression.
The Girls Aloud singer candidly spoke about her experiences, and said she has ‘benefited hugely’ from sharing her problems with a therapist, despite initially having worries about being judged for seeking help.
“I think there is such a taboo around it that people almost feel like they've failed or they weren't strong enough to figure out a situation by themselves,” Nicola said.
“But if you're feeling like you can't see the wood from the trees or light at the end of the tunnel, it's imperative to reach out because you can't always do it alone,” she pleaded.
Nicola said she found the strength to take the first step and visit a therapist, and she’s not looked back since taking the leap.
“It's about saying this is what is happening to me, it's not my fault, but my happiness matters and I'm going to put my hand up and say I need some help,” she added.
“I wouldn't be where I am now without therapy.”
The powerful campaign has been launched in an effort to urge the public to take better care of their mental health, after figures showed more than 2.3 million people have sought out treatment on the NHS since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But new figures released on Monday show that over 50% of people had concerns about their mental health last year.
And more than half experienced symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, but didn’t seek professional help.
The NHS is encouraging people to come forward and speak about their mental health, and NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch said anyone suffering from anxiety, stress, or are feeling low, should get help immediately.
Nicola has previously spoken about her mental health, and discussed how she coped following the death of her bandmate Sarah Harding last year.
The 39-year-old tragically passed away in September after a battle with breast cancer, and Nicola said her death magnified ‘how fragile life is’.
“We can make all the plans in the world but it leaves you feeling concerned anything can happen at any given moment,” she told Metro.co.uk.
“But it’s important to not become mentally swallowed up in those thought processes because that’s not healthy either,” Nicola added.
