Christopher Eccleston has said he “nearly lost everything” as he battled mental health problems.
The former Doctor Who actor recalled reaching his lowest point during an interview with Plymouth-based Big Issue magazine vendor Clive.
The 57-year-old actor, who is an ambassador for the publication, said: “I think the received idea about people who sell The Big Issue is that they’ve never had a ‘successful life’.
“But I discovered that when I had a severe clinical depression and I was hospitalised… I nearly lost everything.
He continued: “There was one night I thought I was going to die. I was running down Euston Road with a suitcase.
“Now, if anybody has seen me they’d have gone, ‘Oh, there’s Doctor Who’.
“My point is, I don’t think people understand how quickly it can happen. Particularly in times of economic recession.”
Christopher said he “broke down” and experienced a mental health episode while filming for the first series of The A Word on BBC, which aired in 2016.
He said: “I was playing a character called Maurice, who was comic and bluff.
“I was spending 10 hours a day being him, then I would go back to my hotel room and I wouldn’t sleep.”
He continued: “I found out afterwards that I’d been in fight or flight for a couple of years and could no longer fight or fly, my brain chemistry was telling me I was about to die.
“I wasn’t necessarily going to take my own life.
“I don’t know whether it would be called psychosis, I was just convinced that I was about to die all night.
“But when 7am came, I would go to work and there would be Maurice’s costume. And I swear to you, Clive, I put it on and I was fine.”
During their conversation, the pair agreed to work together in the future.
Clive has written a short play that will be performed at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal alongside the hit show NHS The Musical.
The full interview is in The Big Issue, out now.
Help and support:
The former Doctor Who actor recalled reaching his lowest point during an interview with Plymouth-based Big Issue magazine vendor Clive.
The 57-year-old actor, who is an ambassador for the publication, said: “I think the received idea about people who sell The Big Issue is that they’ve never had a ‘successful life’.
“But I discovered that when I had a severe clinical depression and I was hospitalised… I nearly lost everything.
He continued: “There was one night I thought I was going to die. I was running down Euston Road with a suitcase.
“Now, if anybody has seen me they’d have gone, ‘Oh, there’s Doctor Who’.
“My point is, I don’t think people understand how quickly it can happen. Particularly in times of economic recession.”
Christopher said he “broke down” and experienced a mental health episode while filming for the first series of The A Word on BBC, which aired in 2016.
He said: “I was playing a character called Maurice, who was comic and bluff.
“I was spending 10 hours a day being him, then I would go back to my hotel room and I wouldn’t sleep.”
He continued: “I found out afterwards that I’d been in fight or flight for a couple of years and could no longer fight or fly, my brain chemistry was telling me I was about to die.
“I wasn’t necessarily going to take my own life.
“I don’t know whether it would be called psychosis, I was just convinced that I was about to die all night.
“But when 7am came, I would go to work and there would be Maurice’s costume. And I swear to you, Clive, I put it on and I was fine.”
During their conversation, the pair agreed to work together in the future.
Clive has written a short play that will be performed at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal alongside the hit show NHS The Musical.
The full interview is in The Big Issue, out now.
Help and support:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
- CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
- The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
- Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.
