The discussion of self-harm in this article may be upsetting to some readers, so be advised.
In the upcoming weeks, an EastEnders character named Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) will be involved in a self-harm storyline.
The teen has been battling increasing pressures at school and at home, which has made her feel distant from her family and friends.
She continued to struggle, arguing with her father Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) about her relationship with Denzel (Jaden Ladega).
As she declines and it becomes clear that she has been harming herself, that is expected to continue.
Viewers will also get to see how Amy’s mental health affects her family members over the coming weeks.
The ways in which her family and friends band together and figure out how to support Amy will also be highlighted.
Alumina, Mind, and Samaritans have collaborated closely with EastEnders to portray this storyline as sensitively and realistically as possible.
“It was really important for us to explore a storyline focused on Amy’s mental health challenges – the issues she faces impact so many young people and their families across the UK, so we hope this will help to raise awareness and to start a conversation among viewers,” said Chris Clenshaw, executive producer of EastEnders.
Working with charities like Alumina, Mind, and Samaritans was crucial in ensuring that the story was depicted as sensitively and accurately as possible because we wanted to make sure it was told with the utmost care.
‘Storylines like Amy’s are so important because they can help communicate the emotions felt by the young person and their family when faced with self-harm,’ said Jenny Cavendish, project co-manager at Alumina. We appreciate how sensitively this plot has been presented while also conveying the range of emotions that Amy and those around her go through.
We think getting help is essential to living a life free of self-harm, as shown on EastEnders, and we hope others will gain from seeing how delicately this is handled by the family. At Alumina, we constantly advise young people to reach out to those in their community in order to help them get the support they need.
Head of media and PR at Mind, Alex Bushill, added that watching mental health issues on screen can help spread awareness of their signs and symptoms.
“As a result, it is wonderful to see EastEnders devote airtime to examining such a significant issue. With one in six young people experiencing a mental health issue, we are aware of the crisis in young people’s mental health.
“I hope Amy’s story serves as a reminder that self-harm is all too common, that it’s not an attention-seeking behavior, and that every young person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Additionally, if someone is harming themselves to deal with difficult emotions, we hope it will highlight safe ways for them to take care of themselves.
Last but not least, Lorna Fraser, executive lead for media advisory at Samaritans, said: “The most extreme caution needs to be taken around stories involving self-harm but sensitive portrayals, which depict a character overcoming difficult moments and show hopeful recovery, can provide encouragement for others to reach out for help.
We were happy to assist a hugely popular soap like EastEnders to maximize the positive impact of Amy Mitchell’s story because young people, especially women Amy Mitchell’s age, are most likely to consider self-harm. Since self-harm is a significant public health issue, it is hoped that Amy’s storyline will contribute to meaningful conversations about mental health.
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