Shirley Ballas explained how the BBC helps its staff with mental health (Picture: Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas opened up about managing her mental health and explained how the BBC offered her support when she ‘needed the help’ last year.
The 62-year-old star is an avid campaigner for mental health and has recently embarked on a series of daring challenges to raise awareness for suicide prevention following the death of her own brother nearly 20 years ago.
She reflected on life living under the glare of the spotlight and admitted the BBC One ballroom show’s cast had been great at rallying around one another when they noticed an individual was struggling.
Following the announcement of this year’s glittering lineup, Shirley looked back on the previous cohort and revealed Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds had a hard time with ‘trolling’ while learning to waltz in 2022.
The professional dancer shared exclusively with Metro.co.uk: ‘The BBC have great things in place that you can talk to somebody or there’s always somebody there on hand to help you with mental health – as there was for me last year when I needed the help.
‘So I think if anybody is struggling, we will rally round. But like I say, we have great things in place to help myself and anybody else.
The dancer is an avid campaigner for mental health (Picture: WireImage)
The star is a judge on the much-loved dancing show (Picture: BBC)
‘I know the young lady last year, Ellie Simmonds, she got a lot of trolling and I know the BBC were on it 24/7 with her and helped her through it.
‘She was a magnificent, magnificent lady. She’ll be in my heart forever. So they’re there for you. We have people in place to deal with that.’
Ahead of returning for another run sitting on the judging panel of the much-loved dancing programme, Shirley shared how she was looking after her own mental health.
‘I love to do yoga. I get myself in a good place, not only for this [her Skyathlon] but also for Strictly so that my mind is clear and there’s less noise.
‘I park all that trolling and everything right next to me on the right-hand seat so I feel like my mind is in a good place and ready to take on challenges and tasks for myself.’
The famous face was fresh from completing the first of three adrenaline-fuelled challenges in support of Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on Wednesday.
Strapping herself in, she flew through the sky over Penryn Quarry in North Wales and admitted she felt ‘that my brother really helped me. His spirit today helped me do that’.
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Shirley skydived for suicide (Picture: CALM)
She revealed she felt her brother’s spirit with her during her challenge (Picture: CALM)
She chatted about her efforts to raise more awareness for CALM’s phone line services and offered everyone her advice as to how best to help someone they feel could be struggling mentally.
Shirley urged: ‘We really need to be vigilant and try to spot signs if there are any. People have a pattern of behaviour and if that pattern of behaviour suddenly changes or you feel something is not right, maybe just make an inquiry or have a little visit.’
Sighing out a breath of relief, she exuded passion as she explained how she was feeling post zip-line ride: ‘I spoke to my son, he’s eight hours behind me in Los Angeles time, and he wanted to wait – he and his wife waited up till I had done my challenge.
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‘I called him and I told him, “Mom’s okay. Feet on the ground”, so he went to bed. That was really sweet and that made me quite emotional – because I’m going to be a grandma in October.’
‘I think I got my point across that you can do things at 62 that perhaps you would otherwise be frightened of.’
To donate to Shirley’s Skyathlon head to https://www.thecalmzone.net/skyathlon
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: [email protected] between the hours of 9am and midnight.
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‘There’s always somebody there on hand to help you’.