Giovanna Fletcher: ‘Post-natal depression shouldn’t be taboo’

This Mental Health week we're looking to all walks of life for good mental health

Giovanna Fletcher has long been praised for her honesty around her experience of post-natal depression following the births of all three of her children – Buzz, five, Buddy, three, and nine-month-old Max – with musician husband Tom Fletcher.

In October, four months after having Max, Giovanna, 34, admitted she wasn’t “feeling herself” and was struggling, telling fans, “Sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. I don’t want to get dressed. I don’t want to see people. I don’t want to do anything. I’m fine, but I’ve been crying for no reason and occasionally can’t seem to stop.”

And she’s extremely empathetic with other mums who have been in her position, reminding them to be “kinder to themselves”.

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She tells us, “It doesn’t matter if you’re a mum who has just had the baby you’ve always wanted, and it doesn’t matter how much wealth you have, what your job is or how glamorous your life looks, if a person is depressed, they’re not being ungrateful, they simply can’t control what’s going on in their minds. Suicide is the biggest killer in new mums – that is scary!”

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After having her first son Buzz, the writer says that she felt guilty about all the negative feelings she was experiencing, but she credits her husband, McFly star Tom, 33, with helping her to navigate through the difficult time.

She says, “Tom and I know each other very well. We talk, and we are aware of what the other is feeling and what their stresses are. We don’t turn it into a massive thing, but we check in with each other.

“I will absolutely speak to our boys and be honest with them about it when they’re older because mental health is like breaking an arm – it shouldn’t be a taboo subject. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Giovanna has recently taken up running, which has also benefited her mental health. “I love the feeling that comes after the run,” she says. “It just makes you feel free."