I’ve lost people to suicide... I hope Aidan’s death helps men to talk
Corrie Cath on this week’s explosive story
The actress reveals she has lost several friends to suicide.
And she says filming heartrending scenes with co-star Shayne Ward left the pair “wiped out” emotionally.
Shayne’s character Aidan Connor takes his life this week after secretly struggling with depression.
Catherine, 34, who plays Aidan’s ex-fiancée Eva, says: “I know several people who have been lost to suicide and I think most people have had experience of the tragedy of someone taking their own life.
“That’s why I am 100 per cent behind this storyline. I feel it is important to highlight it in this way, I really don’t think it is talked about enough at all.
“Men don’t talk as much as they should and this shows in the number who have taken their life. Aidan is so loved and it appears everything is going well for him. On the surface he is happy.
“I believe this is what happens and it can be very hard to spot the signs that someone is struggling to the extent they are considering suicide. Shayne and his character Aidan are men that people identify with. If this encourages someone to talk about how they are feeling, surely it is a good thing.”
Suicide is the single biggest killer of men aged under 45. Around 75 per cent of all such deaths are male.
EMOTIONS
Catherine is leaving Corrie after seven years
The Sunday Mirror supports the Time To Change campaign which promotes mental wellbeing and encourages people to talk about their problems.
Former X Factor winner Shayne, 33, has told how the suicide of a family member helped him play the scenes.
He said: “I was full of different emotions. I was scared, nervous and completely heartbroken, because I knew this was more than just a storyline.
“I just drew upon an honest truth and how I would feel in that situation.”
With both Catherine and Shayne having personal experi- ence of suicide, the emotions fans will see are all too real.
Catherine goes on: “The scenes asked for Eva to cry, but I didn’t have to try. I replayed the scenes we played together in my head, all the wedding scenes, the lovely moments and the tears just flowed.
“I didn’t have to dig for those emotions, they were there. The scripts are beautifully written but were incredibly tough to film, because it felt very real.
“Shayne’s final scenes were on location at the cottage and it was very emotional. We were both wiped out afterwards.”
Aidan’s death comes after he learns he is father to Eva’s newborn – which she has agreed to hand to half-sister Toyah in a surrogacy deal.
Catherine says: “He is struggling so much mentally that he just can’t cope with the news.
“Wrongly, he thinks everyone is better off without him, including his child. By the time she returns to the Street the next day she is too late. She is devastated and riddled with guilt.” Corrie has faced criticism over storylines including the rape of David Platt and Pat Phelan’s murder spree. But Catherine insists: Shayne and Catherine as Corrie couple “Soap is the perfect way to get this issue out there to ensure it’s talked about. “You only need to see the increase in men coming forward as a result of David’s rape storyline to see the difference we can make.” Shayne and Catherine are both leaving Corrie. The actress, who has played barmaid Eva since 2011, is off travelling with husband Tom Pitfield and son Alfie, three. A spokesman for The Samaritans said: “Whatever you’re going through, call us free any time, from any phone on 116 123.” janine.yaqoob@ trinitymirror.com