Note: This article discusses themes including depression and suicidal thoughts that some readers may find upsetting.
Ex-Hollyoaks star Joe Tracini has paid to tribute to former co-star Emmett J Scanlan, crediting him with saving his his life.
Tracini took to Twitter today (October 21) to share a video about his battle with depression and drug abuse.
In the video, the actor details how Scanlan was there by his side when he went into rehab, and how he helped him to get through it.
"There was a point where it was just me and him sat in a room, and I wasn't very well, I weighed about five and half stone. I was not good," he said.
"And I had to phone my mum and tell her where I was... I phoned my mum and said, 'Mum, we're in rehab now,' and he collapsed, and he fell to knees and he grabbed my hand, and he just kept saying 'It'll be OK. It'll be OK'.
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"And it was. But he didn't know it was going to be OK at that point... he was just my friend telling me that I was going to be alright."
Tracini then urged his followers to watch Scanlan's new ITV show Butterfly, which tells the story of a family learning to support their transgender child, and said: "Emmett saved my life, and if you watch that show, it might save yours. Or at the very least, make you feel strong enough to live the one you were meant to.
"So please watch that – and I'm very proud of my friend."
Back in September, Tracini opened up about his depression in an emotional interview on Lorraine.
Discussing what advice he would give to his younger self, he said: "I honestly never, ever know what to say to him but I would just say to him what I say to myself now which is, 'In a minute, this will change'.
"Something that I've learnt is that life is basically just a stack of moments and you can only ever see one at a time."
In May, Tracini also wrote a powerful, candid blog during Mental Health Awareness Week, revealing the true extent of his struggles.
We would encourage anyone who identifies with Joe's experiences to reach out. Organisations who can offer support include Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), and Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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