Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has been inundated with messages of support after bravely opening up about her personal mental health battles, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, in her newly released autobiography. The Lancashire-based star, who rose to fame playing Rosie Webster on the long-running ITV soap, has described her debut book as a heartfelt effort to provide comfort and solidarity to others facing similar challenges.
A Powerful and Frank Memoir
Helen Flanagan recently launched her tell-all autobiography, titled Head and Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns and Being Rosie. The 35-year-old mother of three has billed the work as a powerful, frank, and moving memoir that chronicles her life from early childhood through to the present day, capturing all the pivotal moments in between. In a recent interview with presenter Lorraine Kelly on her eponymous ITV show, Helen emphasised that her primary intention was to create a mental health-focused book rather than a traditional memoir.
Focus on Mental Health Experiences
"I really wanted to write about my experiences with mental health. So I kind of wanted the book really to be more of a mental health book," Helen explained during the television appearance. She elaborated that discussing mental health authentically requires painting a complete picture of one's life, which naturally led to the memoir format. Among the key subjects addressed in the book is OCD, a condition Helen revealed she did not realise she suffered from until she recognised the symptoms in mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon's own writings.
Weeks after the book's launch, Helen took to Instagram to express her immense pride in the project. In a video shared with her followers, she stated, "It's something that I'm really proud of. The book was never meant to be a memoir or anything but I wanted to talk about mental health because that is something I feel passionate about." The former Blackburn student, who shares children Matilda, Delilah, and Charlie with her ex-fiancé and former Preston North End footballer Scott Sinclair, added a humble note: "I don't have the answers or anything, I just wanted my book to be a comfort and to talk about my experiences and my struggles with mental health in hope it may be a comfort to other."
Overwhelming Support from Followers
Accompanying her social media post, Helen wrote a caption expressing her gratitude: "Super proud of my book- Head and Heart, now available to buy in @waterstones. I felt super lucky to have the opportunity to have the platform to be able to write about mental health @mirror.books. OCD is something close to my heart and I was inspired by the lovely @bryonygordon to talk about mine. Sending lots of love." The response from supporters was immediate and effusive, with comments flooding in to praise her bravery and honesty.
One supporter, @mr_flynn89, commented simply, "Brilliant Helen." Another, @soozee10, wrote, "You are very brave and very honest xxxx." @lynncuthbert replied, "I thoroughly enjoyed it!" while @moirarobertson8 added, "Well done Helen - your honesty about your co-occurring diagnosis and mental health - will offer so much to others who are struggling." This outpouring of support underscores the significant impact Helen's candid disclosures are having, as she uses her platform to foster understanding and reduce stigma around mental health issues.
