You might be used to seeing Jennifer Barry being hilarious on Young Offenders as Siobhan, but as we know by now, even people who are funny and make jokes can be seriously suffering behind the scenes.
The actress, who is now 20, has opened up about suffering from clinical depression, which began when she was around 18.
“I was just a zombie. It’s not you inside there any more. It’s a heavy presence,” she told The Irish Independent, adding that it “took over my mind totally”.
This isn’t the first time Jennifer has shared her personal story, back in October, Jennifer detailed the illness saying: “I couldn’t sleep, get out of bed, eat or talk about how I felt, so much so I thought the only way it would get better was if I ended my own life.”
The star began suffering this way during her Leaving Cert year, and after things got very bad, her parents took her to see a GP, who diagnosed her with clinical depression.
Speaking to The Irish Independent about the diagnosis, Jennifer says: “I was so happy that I wasn’t crazy and that this is an actual illness that is beatable.”
Things like medication and counselling have helped Jennifer who said that now, “everything in colour again”.
The actress, who is also currently studying in UCC, shared her advice for anyone going through something similar.
“Take it from someone who didn’t talk and it ended up with me nearly in a coffin, to be quite stark and to be quite real about it. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Open up and talk. There are people out there that do this for a living and that want to help you.”
If you’d like support you can text Hello to 50808, where you can chat anonymously for free with someone who is there to listen. You can also call Samaritans on 116 123 or Pieta House on Freephone 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444.