EastEnders to air mental health storyline focusing on Phil

January 22, 2025
EastEnders to air mental health storyline focusing on Phil

EastEnders has announced details of a new mental health storyline focusing on Phil Mitchell, played by actor Steve McFadden.

The BBC soap said the story will see Phil "attempt to take his own life whilst experiencing depression with psychotic symptoms".

"Having withdrawn from his family and friends in recent months following Sharon's newfound relationship with his cousin Teddy, the breakdown of his marriage to Kat, and Ben's incarceration in America, viewers will continue to see Phil's mental health decline as he attempts to hide his depression from those around him," EastEnders continued.

"The storyline will follow Phil, and the characters closest to him, as Phil's depression takes hold and his psychotic symptoms intensify, with the character experiencing hallucinations at the crisis point where he starts to believe his life is no longer worth living.

"EastEnders is working closely with The Samaritans, Rethink Mental Illness, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), and Mind (UK mental health charity) to ensure Phil's story is portrayed as accurately and as sensitively as possible."

The Samaritans in the UK said: "The nature of a soap makes it possible to present sensitive topics in uniquely engaging ways through characters audiences can relate to. We know men often struggle to open up and share how they are feeling, so it's good to show the importance of checking in and lending a listening ear in this way"

EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw said: "Phil's depression storyline will focus on his decline in mental health and the subsequent psychotic symptoms, and the reaction of those around him, as we hope to demonstrate how mental health can affect anyone at any time.

"Steve's performance is nothing short of extraordinary and has thoughtfully portrayed the complex realties of depression, and the experience of psychotic symptoms, with compassion and understanding."

Lorna Fraser, Head of Samaritans' Media Advice Service in the UK, said: "The EastEnders team has done a great job capturing the reality of a mental health crisis, and we were delighted to help them tell Phil's story in a safe and responsible way.

"The nature of a soap makes it possible to present sensitive topics in uniquely engaging ways through characters audiences can relate to.

"We know men often struggle to open up and share how they are feeling, so it's good to show the importance of checking in and lending a listening ear in this way."

If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, please visit: www.rte.ie/helplines.

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