EastEnders star Lacey Turner has discussed the devastating mental illness that her character Stacey Branning will suffer over the coming weeks.
Stacey will welcome the arrival of her newborn baby boy in touching scenes airing tonight (December 24), but there is a dark time ahead for her as she soon begins suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Although Stacey's increasingly erratic behaviour sparks concern from those closest to her, a tragic chain of events involving the Slater family means that her suffering goes unnoticed for quite some time.
Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey, said: "Stacey doesn't recognise that anything is wrong.
"Postpartum is an extreme psychosis and it starts soon after her giving birth but those around her don't notice the little signs she is showing – part of that is due to so much else going on! It then builds before they soon realise something is seriously wrong."
As Stacey's inner turmoil builds, she starts to become convinced that her son has been sent by God as a saviour for everyone and even finds herself drawn back to the Queen Vic roof, where her husband Bradley died in 2010.
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Turner said: "Stacey's main focus is the baby. That is her sole focus at the moment. Part of Stacey's psychosis is her fearing that the baby is in danger so she is going to extreme lengths to make sure that he is protected.
"She is fearful of those around her so she is not telling anyone what she is thinking and her psychosis is increasing. But at no point is the baby in danger."
Turner also heaped praised onto the show for tackling such important life issues.
She said: "I think it's really important. EastEnders has such a history of covering stories such as bipolar, rape, abuse but the power soaps have is phenomenal.
"Just looking at Shabnam's recent storyline and the awareness that has raised really shows that not only are we creating drama but we are bringing issues into the fore that raises awareness and creates debate.
"It sounds like a cliché but if we can help just one person going through this, then that is amazing. Soaps are a powerful tool that can really change things.
"I think Stacey is going to have a long battle ahead of her but she's a fighter so I just hope that we can show the devastating effects postpartum has but also that it is treatable and the vast majority of women recover."
EastEnders airs these scenes in the week commencing Monday, January 4.
