Helen Flanagan has reflected on how far she has come since this time last year in a devastating New Year post.
The former Coronation Street star, 34, revealed that following her split from the father of her three children, Scott Sinclair, in 2022, she struggled significantly with her mental health and by Christmas 2023, thought her ‘head could have exploded’. The model tragically convinced herself that her beloved children would have been ‘better off without her’ as they spent the festive holiday with their dad.
After hitting rock bottom, she prioritised getting better over the course of the past 12 months and says she is amazed by “what a difference a year can make.” The mum-of-three had been with her footballer finance Sinclair, 35, for 13 years after meeting him at 19 and despite the couple not being married, described their separation as a ‘divorce’.
Following their traumatic split, Helen struggled with depression and suffered a “very scary” psychotic episode while on her dream New Year’s break in Bali with their children Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and Charlie, three. Behind the stream of smiley photos she posted, Helen says she was in turmoil.
Instead of processing her breakup, she revealed she threw herself into her work, which only added to the pressure she felt under. She was rehearsing for her show Cluedo 2, where she played Miss Scarlett, and shared that at the time, she experienced an awful reaction to her medication to treat her ADHD – which she was diagnosed with alongside a bipolar disorder before quitting Corrie in 2012.
Sadly, she had to pull out of her role in the theatre tour, as it would have meant months on the road. She explained at the time: “I had a really bad reaction though to the medication (an ADHD medication) and it sent me into a psychosis for a few days which I didn’t know I was in. I just love my kids so much x this bad reaction though was a few days before rehearsals were starting and sadly I just wasn’t mentally well enough to do it.
“I was heartbroken as I’ve always been professional as an actress, but I needed to stay at home and feel better for me and my kids, with the help of my amazing parents.” The hardest part was not realising what was happening at the time.
Her nanny contacted her parents, Julia and Paul, to alert them that something was wrong, and Helen agreed to let her kids stay with them while she got help. Helen added: “I wanted to do what was best for the kids, and that was the right decision. I saw them every day because it was important for them to see me getting stronger.”
In a fresh update to her 1.1million Instagram followers, she opened up on Thursday night about her heartbreaking circumstances last Christmas. She explained: “I said to Scott he could have the kids ( i live really north and he lives really south) because I wanted to take the kids to Bail for ten days for new year. So I knew I had to be fair. But it really hit me out of nowhere. I said to my friends beforehand it’s just a day; I’ll be fine. I had bad mental health.”
She went on to reveal that her love life was a “s**t show” and that she had neglected her mental wellbeing before admitting her separation left her broke, adding to her turmoil as a single mother. “I felt so s**t and sad,” she continued. “I felt like my whole life was f***ed up now and I had the perfect family. 13 years is a long time to be with someone. My whole 20s. I had a lot of family fall outs too and I also lost basically all my money. Me and Scott weren’t married we were engaged.
“My mental health was so bad I thought maybe my kids would be better off without me and maybe they would be better off with their dad as he’s more level-headed than me. I love my kids more than words can say but when you are not well you’re not well.”
This Christmas, Helen, who has since moved on with a new boyfriend, was able to spend the holiday with her children at her parents’ house. Reflecting on how far she has come, she added: “In 2024 I prioritised my mental health, made up with a lot of people that I loved and came to a bit of peace. My head is 70% clearer than it was this time last year and for that I am grateful x.
“Ofcorse my life isn’t perfect no one’s is and everyone has s**t going on but I have a lot to be grateful for. I remember how I felt in my head this time last year, I felt my head could have exploded and I felt at that time that I needed some tablets to just function.”
“I don’t see it as a break-up, I see it as a divorce. We were together 13 years. But instead of processing it all, I threw myself into work and shut off my emotions. I just went into survival mode. Then it all came to the surface earlier this year and I was mentally and physically breaking down. It was really sad and very scary. I was seeing things and I felt like I was in danger all the time.”
As a part of her healing and recovery, Helen has rediscovered her love of exercise. She also found tackling long-overdue tasks, such as de-cluttering her home, has cleared her mind and helped tackle the trauma. Speaking with the Mirror last May, she said her healing work has also aided her co-parenting relationship with Bristol Rovers player Scott.
When they broke up and the kids were with him, Helen would escape her empty house by going to London to drink. But she said: “Now I really love it. I stay at home, watch TV or do pilates, go for a run or a swim.”
She has always appreciated “two happy homes are better than one unhappy home” and she and Scott are in a “better place than ever”. Helen said: “I don’t want to live with toxic feelings, I want to get on with the father of my kids and he’s the same. When we found each other on a dating app we had a laugh about it, which shows how far we’ve come.”
If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
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