Kym Marsh has urged those suffering from depression to talk about it.
The 38-year-old actress - who plays Michelle Connor in 'Coronation Street' - admitted that she suffered from the illness when she tragically lost her baby in 2009 after he was born 18 weeks premature.
She said: "I've suffered a couple of times. Depression is something that kind of remains with you. You do get better, but there are times when you do end up revisiting it. The last time I had it was when I lost my little boy in 2009.
"It's weird because at the time you don't realise that's happening to you. You feel that what you're doing is completely normal and actually it isn't. And it takes people to kind of point things out to you. Then for me I went and discussed things with a doctor and got help that way, and had a little bit of counselling."
Kym turned to her friends, unlike her on-screen partner in the ITV soap, Steve McDonald (played by Simon Gregson) whose depression has alienated him from Michelle.
She told BBC Breakfast: "The best thing to do is talk. And particularly in the first place to reach out to those people around you.
"I think we've seen that with Steve, he's pushed everyone away, when actually what he should be doing is bringing those people closer because it is a dark place to be, especially if you're on your own ...
"Steve is in denial about what's wrong with him. He's been to see a doctor, the doctor has told him he's got depression, but he's not actually doing anything about it and he's certainly not talking to anyone around him about what's wrong.
"I think he's trying to kid himself in a way that he doesn't need any help."
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