Entertainment
Caroline Flack’s family ‘begged her to quit showbiz’ amid secret depression battle
Caroline Flack’s family begged her to quit showbiz as the TV presenter struggled for years with her mental health.
The Love Island star is the centre of a new documentary for Channel 4, following her life leading up to her suicide in February 2020.
Her twin sister Jody is among those who speak up in the film, and speaking to the cameras she reveals Caroline had previously attempted suicide and struggled with depression and anxiety.
As a result, the family had tried to get her to take a step back from the limelight for the sake of her mental health, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
‘I would beg her to change jobs and leave showbiz but she never would, life would have been easier but she wasn’t built for an easy life,’ Jody says.
‘She was always scared she’d be ridiculed, she was terrified to admit her mental health struggles.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Her mum Christine also reflects on her daughter’s life, stating Caroline ‘didn’t handle heartbreak well’ and after splitting from boyfriends, had previously tried to take her own life.
‘She had a long relationship when she was in Cambridge but that ended and then we got a call,’ she says.
‘She’d taken some pills, she spent time in hospital and then you could tell it wasn’t right, her reaction wasn’t right. Yeah, she didn’t handle heartbreak well.’
Speaking at a Bafta Q+A event, Christine added Caroline would also frequently change doctors to hide how badly her depression was affecting her – as a result, noone knew how badly she was struggling.
The family hope that by speaking out in Caroline: Her Life and Death, they will encourage others who are battling depression to speak out to loved ones.
Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death airs Wednesday 17 March at 9pm on Channel 4, and available on All4.
Need support? Contact the Samaritans
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
Got A Story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Caroline Flack’s family release unseen family photos ahead of Channel 4 documentary
