To raise awareness for Suicide Prevention Month, he shared a candid post on Instagram discussing his own suicide attempt in 2020 and spoke openly about how he felt at the time.
Bradley Riches is one of this year’s stars announced to be taking part in The Celebrity Traitors(Image: Getty Images for The NTA’s)
September marks Suicide Prevention Month, and a Celebrity Traitors star has shared their deeply personal and emotional story of how they tried to end their life to raise awareness.
Bradley Riches is best known for starring in Netflix’s Heartstopper, Celebrity Big Brother and more recently in Emmerdale as Lewis Barton. However, he is also a bestselling author who wrote Autistically Me, a book about his experiences growing up with autism.
The 24-year-old actor is one of this year’s stars announced to be taking part in The Celebrity Traitors, but before his stint at the Scottish castle the young actor has candidly spoken about his mental health battle. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
To raise awareness for Suicide Prevention Month, he shared a candid post on Instagram on September 2, discussing his own suicide attempt in 2020 and spoke openly about how he felt at the time.
Bradley said: “I always get nervous talking about my experience and my life, but I want to share this. And hopefully I won’t get scared and delete it.
“In 2020, I tried to end my life. At the time, I couldn’t see a life beyond that moment. I didn’t know who I was, or whether things could ever feel different.”
The actor went on to say that since that moment he has kept a list of all the things he’s experienced that he would have missed had he “given up that day”.
This list included graduating, Christmases with his family, joining Emmerdale and Heartstopper, entering the Big Brother house, making new friends, writing a bestselling book, travelling and getting married.
Bradley continued: “There may be a moment where you genuinely can’t see a reason to stay. I know that feeling. But please, stay for the things you haven’t experienced yet.
“You are loved. You are important. Your story is not finished. I’m so, so glad I stayed.
“September is Suicide Prevention Month (it is a month but trying to stay is a whole year thing). If you’re struggling, please tell someone. You don’t have to carry it alone.”
Family, friends, fans and co-stars all flooded Bradley’s social media post to show support for the young actor.
Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley said, “Love you so so so much” and Michelle Hardwick added “Love you my darling.”
Fellow co-star Beth Cordingley said: “Please don’t delete this. It’s perfect. And beautiful. And important. Like you. You are an amazing human. We love you.”
One fan said: Thank you for sharing, suicide is always perceived as taboo but you never know who needed to see this today
Another added: “Please don’t delete this it’s nice to see a celebrity be so raw and open it makes me feel less alone as an autistic adult who spent years struggling in and out of hospital. I’m so glad you stayed and I’m so proud of you for being so open.”
