Melanie C has spoken of the importance of reaching out when you are suffering from mental health issues.
The Spice Girl was diagnosed with depression more than two decades ago and has openly admitted she was too "ashamed" to talk about it at first, but speaking up was an essential part of her getting well again, and she would implore anyone else going through their own battles not to suffer in silence.
The 47-year-old singer - who is known as Sporty Spice in the girl group - told The Graham Norton Radio Show on Virgin Radio: "I kept those secret and I think people are quite aware of it around you but they don't know how to approach you. I think I would have just said 'people love you and care about you, please reach out to them'...So often you need that external help, you have to be ready, but you do need help and personally for me I needed professional help."
The "Who I Am" star - who also battled an eating disorder - insisted that "people need people".
She added: "If anybody close to me was going through it [depression], I think you just need to reach out when you're depressed… I've suffered with an eating disorder as well. I think a lot of people feel very ashamed and very embarrassed about it like it's a weakness and you've lost this control... It's so important to reach out and never, ever be embarrassed. We all have problems and concerns. People need people."
