Yahoo News C4 host Kirsty Duffy opens up over postnatal depression
TV presenter Kirsty Duffy and her husband Ben Richards have shared their experience of severe postnatal depression in an honest and emotional interview.
Kirsty, who presents Channel 4's Coast vs Country, appeared on today's (October 19) Loose Women alongside her husband to share their story in the hope of "helping other people" who have had a similar experience.
Kirsty and actor Ben, who has starred in the likes of The Bill and Hollyoaks, welcomed their first child together Freja Amelie back in 2015 after a difficult pregnancy and birth.
In the immediate days after Freja's birth, Kirsty explained that she felt a "transition from what I believed was the baby blues" into "something a lot darker".
Reflecting on the "grey area" between what is a 'normal' postnatal experience and what is more serious, Kirsty added that she didn't know what point was considered "normality".
Before realising that she was in the grip of her illness, Kirsty told the panel that she had even imagined her daughter was "like the devil".
"She had this little glint in her eye that she was looking right through me. I was scared of her, but I knew I had to [breastfeed] her because that was giving her life," she explained.
"Sometimes I'd even pull the muslin cloth or something slightly over [her], so I didn't have to have face-to-face [contact] with her – which was horrendous."
Thank you @kirstydf & @benrichardsact for talking so openly about your experience of postnatal depression.
We have helplines and information here >https://t.co/9FGspRnmIJ pic.twitter.com/L3TkpTh0YX- Loose Women (@loosewomen) October 19, 2018
The TV host went on to add that postnatal depression and psychosis could "happen to anyone" and urged anyone who related to her and Ben's story to reach out for help.
"I really do believe it can happen to anyone. I don't think it matters on circumstances – I think if you're going to get it, you're going to get it," she said.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
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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