Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall has spoken about the band’s early struggles with mental health after being thrust into the limelight.
The former X Factor contender has spoken at the British LGBT Awards where Little Mix were honoured for their work advancing the rights of the community.
Jade told The Sun that band members were only teenagers when they achieved stardom and were thrust into the music industry.
Congratulations to @LittleMix on winning the @MetroUK *Change Makers* Award at the 2019 #BritishLGBTAwards!
Check out all the winners at https://t.co/tlpvXnQ373.#LittleMix #PerrieEdwards #JadeThirlwall #JesyNelson #LeighAnnePinnock pic.twitter.com/wCDuL1l6Lc
— British LGBT Awards (@BritLGBTAwards) 17 May 2019
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She has said they had to negotiate the challenges of fame, which for young women involves debate over their bodies.
Jade said: “Maybe there could have been a bit more in place for mental health, we all have suffered in some way.
“As four young women getting thrust into the industry, having everyone talking about how you look, just the pressure suddenly being in this industry was a lot for all of us. We had to find our own way of dealing with that.”
Speaking about how the band coped with the demands of fame, Jade said: “We’ve got each other. We’ve all gone through moments with our mental health, whether it’s talking to someone, getting therapy.”
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Jade’s bandmate Jesy Nelson is making a documentary on mental health.
The programme, which has a working title of Jesy Nelson: My Story and will premiere on BBC Three before airing on BBC One, will look at “how growing up in a social media-fuelled age of selfies, body shaming and trolling is having a profound impact on the mental health of young people”.
The 27-year-old singer said: “This is a project really close to my heart, and I’m delighted to be working with the BBC on a documentary that will both challenge me personally and also highlight a hugely important issue affecting young people today.”
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Alongside a short video posted on Instagram announcing the news, Jesy wrote: “Mental health awareness is something we should all be talking about more. Having suffered myself I decided I want to do something about it.
“So I’m pleased to announce I’m making a film with the BBC, telling my own personal story and exploring how social media, body shaming and trolling is affecting the mental health of young people.”
In the video she added that it was a subject which “personally I think we don’t speak about enough”.
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