I feel so guilty over my telly pal Andrea’s breakdown
Loose Women host on how she had no idea that fellow star was suffering
Loose Women star Saira Khan has revealed her anguish over TV friend Andrea McLean’s battle with anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
She said she felt guilty about not spotting the signs – despite working beside her on the show.
Glasgow-born Andrea, 50, opened up on her mental health struggles in her book This Girl Is On Fire.
She said there was a time she
was in turmoil after suffering a breakdown that left her depressed and overwhelmingly anxious.
Now former Apprentice star Saira says she’s angry at herself for not doing more to help.
She said: “I had no idea she was dealing with such pain. How could I have missed that?
“How can I make sure I don’t miss it ever again should anyone close to me go through something similar? “Looking back, I feel angry and disappointed at myself for not realising Andrea needed support. “There was a pattern in her behaviour which signalled ‘something is not quite right’. “She was quieter, withdrawn, not participating in the banter, her concentration lev e ls were dipping, she was losing weight and she just did not s eem herself. “Now and again I would ask, ‘ You OK, Andrea?’, and she would smi le and say, ‘ Yes, fine’.”
Saira, 50, called Andrea as soon as she read the book to apologise.
She said: “I told her I feel bad, as though I’d let her down for not being there for her. I also asked how I could do things differently in the future – be it for a friend or a work colleague.
“Like a trouper, Andrea had the answer – if you suspect something is wrong, ask. Send a text, show an interest. Let them know you are thinking of them. Let them know you are there.
“As Andrea put it, it’s not about grand gestures, it’s about tiny acts of love and kindness.”
Mum- of- two Saira said she then sent “thinking of you” cards to friends who may have been struggling during lockdown.
Andrea recently told how a “trivial” argument with her third husband Nick Feeney in 2019 triggered overwhelming anxiety and she started having suicidal thoughts.
She cut down on her workload and turned to therapy for help and has said she does still experience anxiety but not as severe.
Saira added: “It’s good to see my friend smiling again and I admire and applaud her for putting her story out there to help others.”