Note: The following article contains discussion of themes including depression and suicidal thoughts that some readers may find upsetting.
The past couple of years have been heavy, to say the least, for Stephanie Davis, otherwise known as Sinead O’Connor on Hollyoaks.
The soap star struggled with alcohol addiction, depression and PTSD, following her split from Jeremy McConnell, father of her 21-month-old son Caben-Albi.
The pair met on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, but Stephanie took the decision to check herself into rehab after their well-documented relationship broke down last year.
Speaking to OK!, Stephanie disclosed her recent experiences.
“It was such a relief when someone sat me down and told me what was wrong. I’d been going to counselling, taking anti-depressants and nothing was working. I thought alcohol was the solution,” she said.
“I was also diagnosed with depression and PTSD. I had post-natal depression, too, but that was overlooked because of everything else.”
Stephanie also revealed that her son has been her saviour through her darkest times: “Although I look after him, he’s looked after me more than he knows. If it wasn’t for him I would have been dead and buried a long time ago. I was so suicidal, but he kept me going.”
She continued: “He’s my little angel and I’ll be honest with him about everything. I’m proud of my journey.”
Having made personal progress, Stephanie is now returning to her role in Hollyoaks for the first time in three years and told OK! that she feels positive about the move.
“When I got myself sorted one day I was like, ‘Shall I go back to Hollyoaks?'” she said.
“I messaged the producer Bryan [Kirkwood]. He was incredibly understanding and supportive.”
And it seems she is looking forward to restarting her career and putting the past behind her, saying: “I’m a good actress – I just got a little bit lost.”
Read the full story in this week’s OK! Magazine, on sale today.
Hollyoaks airs on weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first-look screenings at 7pm on E4.
We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Organisations who can offer support include Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), and Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Alcohol Concern offers information, advice and support with their questions about drinking and the problems that can sometimes be caused by alcohol. For more information, visit Alcohol Concern’s website. Drinkline also offers free, confidential advice to anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else’s drinking on 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm).
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