Hollyoaks saved life of radio contributor with Kyle Kelly's tragic storyline
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Note: The following article contains discussion of themes including suicide that some readers may find upsetting.
A BBC radio contributor has opened up about how one particular moment in Hollyoaks "saved their life."
While chatting with actor Ashley Taylor Dawson, who plays Darren Osborne, as part of the broadcaster's 5 Live Drive segment, John recalled that they were struggling with suicidal thoughts around the same time that character Kyle Kelly tragically took his own life on the show back in June 2020.
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John went on to say that seeing Kyle's mother's reaction to her son's passing encouraged them to seek help, as they couldn't bear the thought of their own mum going through the same experience.
"You don't understand how appreciative I am because I wasn't even going to watch that episode," they told Ashley. "I wasn't going to watch it because I was just going to end it… I'm shaking because I just can't believe that this has happened.
"Nancy and Darren distressed and coming together… it hit home, it hit something," they continued. "Imagine my mum finding me. It was absolutely, incredibly amazing, I can't explain it."
"If that storyline wasn't there, I would not be here"
John struggled with suicidal thoughts last year, but a @Hollyoaks storyline saved their life.
We brought John and @ashoztd, who plays Darren, together to talk about mental health.
More on Drive 📲 https://t.co/96JBVIxhtJ pic.twitter.com/f7RUY1tSyU— BBC Radio 5 Live (@bbc5live) January 19, 2021
"You know what I find interesting about that, John… you'd already planned it," Ashley, who was recently tasked with bringing a depression storyline involving Darren to life, replied.
"You'd already said that you were going to go ahead with it, and you'd already thought about that scenario, but it was actually seeing it being played out.
"So what I'm saying is, for everyone there might be a different avenue for them to open up – sometimes it takes something else to trigger than impulse and see a different route, maybe."
Hollyoaks on weekdays at 6.30pm on Channel 4.
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) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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