Melanie C on depression: It's so important to reach out

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.”

Elsewhere, Melanie – who released her self-titled eighth solo album last year – admitted she made peace with the fact she will always be remembered as a Spice Girl and she’s thankful being in the world’s biggest girl band allowed her to pursue a solo career.

She said: “When you’ve been part of something as enormous as the Spice Girls that’s the thing that everybody’s going to remember you for, but I’m so grateful that it’s enabled me to go on and make my eighth studio album.”

Tune in to ‘The Graham Norton Radio Show’ every Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am-12.30pm on Virgin Radio. You can listen to the show ad-free on DAB, online via virginradio.co.uk, the free Virgin Radio app or on your smart speaker.