Former EastEnders actress Shona McGarty is embarking on a journey far more daunting than any Walford storyline, as she prepares to enter the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle. In an exclusive interview, the star has courageously opened up about her long-term battle with anxiety and depression, revealing her determination to confront these challenges head-on.
Confronting the Invisible Battle
Shona confessed that her mental health struggles have significantly impacted her life over the past four to five years. "My mental health, my anxiety and my depression has been pretty bad over the last at least four or five years, and that has stopped me from doing a lot of things I have always wanted to do," she revealed. The actress explained she has reached a pivotal moment where she refuses to let anxiety control her decisions any longer.
Growing up in the public eye from a young age while playing Whitney Dean on the popular BBC soap created unique pressures. Shona described the industry expectation to always appear fine, even when struggling internally. "Being in an industry at such a young age, when people ask 'are you okay?' you have to say you are fine," she shared. "That was kind of the way I was taught... you kind of fake it to make it. But that can take its toll on you, and I think it did, because we are all human."
The Road to Management and Support
The actress has found ways to manage her condition through therapy and medication, though she acknowledges that difficult days still occur. "I panic and I don't know why... I am just sort of learning as I go," Shona admitted. Despite concerns that anxiety might "rear its ugly head" during her jungle experience, she feels prepared to handle it openly with support from fellow campmates.
Shona praised her strong support network, including her family and the BBC, which had systems in place for young performers to voice their feelings. However, professional fears often prevented her from speaking up earlier in her career. "There is always that thing in the back of your head where you think, well, it is unprofessional of me to say that I am not doing okay? You might lose your job or get killed off," she explained.
A New Chapter and Raising Awareness
Since leaving EastEnders in May last year, Shona has successfully transitioned to theatre work and begun a music career. Her decision to join I'm A Celebrity represents another significant step in facing her fears. She aims to use her platform on the popular ITV show to raise awareness about mental health issues, following in the footsteps of previous contestants like Danny Jones and Sam Thompson who openly discussed their struggles.
"I think it is really important to talk about it. I think over the last couple of years, I have noticed a lot of young people say that they suffer with anxiety and depression," Shona stated. "It is very hard now, growing up. I would not like to be 16 again at this time."
Her family responded with excitement when she told them about her jungle adventure, understanding what a significant step this represents given her mental health journey. Shona believes her tomboy childhood, spent climbing trees and digging for worms, might actually serve her well in the camp environment.
With her characteristic humour, she shared her mother's primary concern wasn't about bugs or hunger, but about how her fair Irish skin would cope with the Australian heat. As she faces this monumental challenge, Shona McGarty stands as an inspiring figure for anyone battling invisible struggles, proving that sometimes the bravest act is simply showing up.
