Star of Coronation Street Beverley Callard has revealed she will be on medication for life to battle depression.
Actress Beverley was diagnosed with bipolar in 2009 and has since been open and honest about her struggles with her mental health.
She has now said she realises she will be “medicated forever”.
She told the Daily Star: “I’ll have to be medicated forever. I know I will have to take medication for the rest of my life. I am grateful it’s there.”
The actress also told how she struggles to speak about her illness when she’s in the midst of its worst effects but is determined to speak up when she can to help others.
Read more: Coronation Street SPOILERS: Sophie’s exit storyline ‘revealed’
She added: “It’s really weird, but when you’re in the depths of it you can’t talk about it.
“You can only talk about it when you’ve got better.
“So I wouldn’t be able to discuss anything if I wasn’t well.
“But once I’ve recovered I can try to champion the cause then to help people going through it.”
She previously opened up to Yours magazine about how she tackled the illness: “Overcoming clinical depression is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
“I never thought it would happen to me – I am a strong female, and very feisty. But I think depression has a tendency to affect strong people, as we keep going no matter what.
Read more: Coronation Street’s Lucy Fallon denies joining I’m A Celebrity
“We take everything on, and I’m a perfectionist – I learn my lines way too early. And I’m also something of a people pleaser.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself. It helps that I still teach fitness classes twice a week – and an added benefit is that the weight I’ve put on due to medication is slowly shifting.”
Beverley will celebrate her 30th year on Corrie next year playing Liz McDonald as it coincides with the show’s 60th anniversary.
What do you think of Beverley’s statements? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!