The man behind Ian Beale's breakdown
Kevin Shepherd, supporter of , England鈥檚 biggest mental health anti-stigma programme run by the charities and , writes:
听When I was contacted by about advising a TV series with an upcoming mental health story line I never imagined it would turn out to be EastEnders!
Contact was quickly made with the research team and many emails and phone calls were exchanged, the outcome of which was the Ian Beale breakdown story. My input was welcomed and I quickly realised that this was going to be something I could really help with; I could draw on my own experiences and do my bit to make sure that Ian鈥檚 illness was portrayed accurately and as far as possible, realistic and believable.
Mental illness is a massive umbrella covering a vast array of different diagnoses. One of the biggest challenges in creating awareness of mental health issues is breaking down the stereotypical way people think when confronted with the term 鈥渕ental illness鈥 and Ian鈥檚 breakdown is just one of so many different ways that the illness can manifest itself.听 My personal experience is of a mental breakdown and anxiety/depressive disorder and I could really empathise with the story.
听
Right from the start of my illness I was advised to start a blog, being as open and honest as I could, I was told it could prove to be very therapeutic, and it was. I wrote as often as I could -听the good, the bad, and the indifferent. Eventually I plucked up the courage to share the blog with a few close friends and eventually it became even more public. Some of the entries (especially the very early ones) are quite painful to look back on, but that was me at the time, that was my life, and it helps me when I am having a bad day to look back and see where I was then and how far I have come since those dark horrible days.
One of my blog entries recalls an episode where I was walking along a dual carriageway completely lost and in total despair. As you can imagine I found it very tough to watch Ian do a very similar walk in the episode when his breakdown completely hit. I have to say that Adam Woodyatt who plays Ian played the part superbly well, the whole build up was acted brilliantly and the exit was outstanding in my opinion. Having seen some of the comments on social media sites it was also widely praised for being both moving and realistic.
My experience of helping out with the story was enormously positive, the people I was in contact with were superb and could not have been more supportive and understanding of the issues which they were portraying.
What next for Ian? Well, you will have to wait and see. I just hope that in some small way I have managed to do a little bit to make people see that mental health issues can affect anyone at any time and if this venture encourages just one or two people to challenge their pre-conceptions regarding mental health issues I will consider it a massive success.
Further links and support for those with Mental Health issues
Comment number 1.
At 31st Jul 2012, Janeybabe1 wrote:Why dose Whitney have the same mobile number as "VIV" who is on rays mobile phone?? Seriously Whitney can't be after Ray???
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Comment number 2.
At 31st Jul 2012, Roger King wrote:Ian has only been away for about 3 months but has managed to grow about 5 years worth of facial hair. How has he managed that
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Comment number 3.
At 1st Aug 2012, eastendersandcorrielover wrote:How did you find out whitneys phone number?
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Comment number 4.
At 2nd Aug 2012, nadedan wrote:same what i was thinking roger king most men grow there facial hair. Quite quick
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Comment number 5.
At 2nd Aug 2012, lizzy Wilks wrote:I can remember watching eastender's in 1986 and seeing Arthur Fowler have a mental breakdown on Christams 86,he swiped everything in the living room. Adam Woodyatt has portrayed Ian very well and I think it would be very hard to do something likr that so well done Adam :)
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Comment number 6.
At 2nd Aug 2012, babamaman wrote:Thank goodness for "catchup"...what with having my grandson staying with me and the olympics...there is no way I can watch endrs in peace....so wonderful wonderful catchup....all is quiet...just about to watch tonights episode.....ssssshhhhhhhhhhh
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Comment number 7.
At 3rd Aug 2012, yassy12344321 wrote:This is such a facinating thing on eastenders! Wonder how it would feel like to be a tramp!? :)
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Comment number 8.
At 3rd Aug 2012, Melanie wrote:Ian needs to shave his beard!!!
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Comment number 9.
At 4th Aug 2012, mike_pilgrim wrote:Ian looks sexy! Why he aint speak no Anglasi ?
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Comment number 10.
At 5th Aug 2012, blog123 wrote:If you ask me we never saw things get that bad for Ian that he would disappear for a few months be homeless then return not being able to talk because he was that messed up in the head ??? very far fetched if you ask me If the storyline was done better it might of been more believable
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Comment number 11.
At 5th Aug 2012, pat field wrote:Ian looks like someone from Central Casting but even more totally implausible is that his 'friends'would take him home like that!! For Lucy to cope with?? Worse than the shockingly self-indulgent tripe from Cora (Kora). This character is totally dislikeable and in too many scenes. Still, nothing will touch the utterly toe-curling character of Denise's sister!
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Comment number 12.
At 7th Aug 2012, corriefan2 wrote:Well Pat, I must say that in a soap generally devoid of all things humerous, Kim makes me laugh.
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Comment number 13.
At 12th Aug 2012, Nightowl92 wrote:Why are his hands so clean - they should be a dirty as the rest of him and his finger nails are not just clean but really short.....after living rough he wouldn't have hands and nails like that!
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Comment number 14.
At 13th Aug 2012, dazman wrote:Maybe he bites his nails?
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