EastEnders will be airing their very first male postnatal depression storyline as Stuart Highway struggles to bond with his son.
Over the last year, Stuart has suffered through his own health struggles after being diagnosed with breast cancer and initially refusing to have treatment.
However, he has since reluctantly agreed to have treatment for the sake of his newborn son Roland.
Yet, in the coming weeks, Stuart will find it increasingly difficult to bond with Roland, leading him to question his love for his son.
The BBC soap is working with PANDAS and Mind on the storyline.
Annie Belasco, Head of the Charity PANDAS, says: “PANDAS Foundation were delighted to hear that EastEnders intended to produce a storyline highlighting postnatal depression in men.
"We enjoyed advising the team around the postnatal depression aspect of Stuart's journey which we feel will be relatable to many fathers struggling to bond with their baby.
"Postnatal depression in fathers is still a much undiscovered and stigmatised area, which is why it is so imperative that awareness is shared in no doubt that men who may be feeling unwell with symptoms of postnatal depression can seek the support that they need at an early interventional stage.
"A full recovery of any low level perinatal mental illness, with the right support is possible.”
Alex Bushill, Head of Media & PR at Mind, adds: “When people see mental health problems portrayed sensitively on screen, it raises awareness and encourages people to seek support for their mental health.
"So, it’s great to see EastEnders dedicating airtime to exploring such an important issue. I hope this story helps highlight how depression can impact new dads and encourage dads to seek help if they need it. Whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone. And you deserve respect and support.”
*EastEnders airs Monday - Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One
