TV soap to shine a light on mental health

♦ The BBC soap Holby City is to dedicate an entire episode to the subject of mental health.

Much of the action in the show, sub-titled Man Down, will take place on the roof of the fictional hospital, as one of the characters, Dr Sacha Levy, played by Bob Barrett, struggles after a devastating surgical outcome for a favourite patient.

The writer and producers worked alongside Mind, the mental health charity, for the episode, which will be aired at the end of August.

Simon Harper, the executive producer, said the writer, Michelle Lipton, “shines a light on the issue of male mental health and how it can slip under the radar because of the reluctance of men like Sacha, who avoid seeking help for fear of appearing weak”.

Jenni Regan, a Mind spokesman, said: “It’s great to see that Holby City is shining a spotlight on the issue of depression in men.

“When done well, it can encourage more people to seek help,” she added.