Rylan Clark attends The Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards at The Roundhouse on 6 October, 2021 in London. (Getty/ Dave Benett)
Rylan Clark has opened up about his struggle with mental illness, which involved a recent hospital stay to keep him safe.
Last year the TV personality, whose real name is Ross Clark, confirmed rumours that he had split up with husband Dan Neal, and said that he would be taking time off work as he was “not in a good place”, but was “seeking help”.
Clark completely disappeared from the public eye for four months, but on Sunday (16 January), in an interview with The Observer, he opened up about his mental health.
He said: “I’d got to the point where I didn’t know if I wanted to come back. Or whether I would be able to do this job again. I’d got… quite ill.”
Clark reached the point where he “didn’t think it would get better”, and realised that he “needed help”.
He explained that his Rylan Clark persona is a “brick wall”, that can deal with the scrutiny, criticism and social media hate that comes with being a celebrity. Ross Clark, on the other hand, finds this more difficult.
Clark continued: “When you find out something you always wanted isn’t what you thought it was… I didn’t think I’d be here. I didn’t think I could continue.”
Luckily, Clark managed to access the help he needed, and was taken into hospital “for safety reasons”.
Now, he said, he realises that he “lost” himself when he career became his entire life.
“I think I’m finding a new ‘me’ now,” he said.
“I’m so good at being Rylan. I know my job – what’s right, what’s wrong, what works, what doesn’t – I do Rylan really well.
“But actually, I didn’t realise how much Ross I’d lost… I learned I’m worth something. That I should be proud of myself, not embarrassed.”
Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk).
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255, or The Trevor Project which provides 24/7 crisis support, 365 days a year. Text START to 678-678, or call: (866) 488-7386.