When a loved one is struggling with depression, it can be hard to know what to say. We can feel powerless in these situations, aware that what we say could be damaging if not thought through properly. There is no perfect way to talk to someone affected by depression but making an effort can be comforting and help in more ways than you think. Here are five helpful things to say to a loved one who is living with depression:
1. ‘I am here if you want to talk’
Depression can manifest itself in many ways, but it is common that those affected are reluctant to ask for help. You cannot force someone to talk about how they are feeling. No one owes you a conversation in exchange for your support. However, for someone to know you are there makes a huge difference. Be patient. Open up the lines of communication and let them take it from there. Remind them often that you will be there whenever they want to talk.
2. ‘What can I do to help today?’
Getting out of bed can be a challenge for those with depression. Symptoms include fatigue and lethargy. Ask your loved one what you can do to help them get through their day. This does not have to be huge tasks, it will often be small things like having a cup of tea together, sharing a lift to work or even accompanying them to the doctor. Sometimes, giving them space is just what they need, so be sure to ask if they simply need time to themselves.
3. ‘You are not a burden’
Those with depression often need help with everyday tasks such as cooking food, shopping or even getting dressed. You must let your loved one know that you are helping because you want to. You want to create a space where they feel comfortable asking for this kind of help when they need it. Let them know that they are not putting you out in any way.
4. ‘You are so important to me’
Depression causes people to have feelings of doubt and worthlessness. It is important for you to tell your loved one outright how much you value them in your life. Try and do this as often as you can. Let them know specifically why you love and respect them. Even if they do not respond to this, your words can be powerful.
5. ‘What you are feeling is real. I am sorry you are feeling like this’
Those with depression have heard it all before: ‘snap out of it’…‘eat more vegetables and you will feel better’…‘you’re just being lazy’…‘there are people worse off than you’. These are extremely unhelpful ways of responding to anyone. Even if you do not fully understand how your loved one is feeling, it is crucial that you validate their emotions or lack thereof.
If you have a loved one who needs help, encourage them to visit www.pieta.ie for a range of supports.
Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has revealed that she attempted suicide in 2013 after constant trolling about her appearance.
The X-Factor winner explained how the pressure and consistent negative comments caught up with her one night in 2013 and she took "as many tablets as I could" to escape it.
Her then-boyfriend realised what Jesy had tried to do and immediately called an ambulance, where Jesy was taken to hospital for treatment.
Her new BBC documentary, Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out, she said; "I was sat in bed crying, thinking, 'This is never going to go, I'm going to feel sad for the rest of my life, so what is the point in being here?'
"The only way I can describe the pain is like constantly being heartbroken. I remember going to the kitchen and I just took as many tablets as I could. Then my ex, who was with me at the time, he woke up and was like, 'why are you crying?' I kept saying, 'I just want to die'."
Jesy deleted Twitter since the incident, which she found was a huge breeding ground for ruthlessly vile comments. The 28-year-old has faced criticism for everything you can possibly think of.
Jesy told her family and close friends, as well as the rest of Little Mix, what had happened after her suicide attempt six years ago.
In the BBC documentary, which will be available on the iPlayer and will air on BBC One from 12 September, she recalled how the bullying began almost straight away after the X Factor experience;
"I had about 101 Facebook messages in my inbox, and the first one that came up was from some random man, saying: 'You are the ugliest thing I've seen in my life, you do not deserve to be in this girl band. You deserve to die'."
Jesy adds: "The whole world had an opinion on me and they weren't good ones. From the minute those comments started it became one of the worst times of my life."
"I wasn't known as one of the singers from Little Mix. I was always known as 'the fat, ugly one'. It literally consumed every part of me."
The star found fame on X Factor in 2011 when she was paired with Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock to form a girl group.
Jesy is hoping that her new documentary will shed light on the impact of social media trolls and mental health. If this story has affected you, please call Samaritans on their hotline: (01) 671 0071
Teen drama 13 Reasons Why has been renewed for a fourth and final season on Netflix, Variety has just reported.
Season 4 is currently in production, with the trailer for Season 3 being released yesterday teasing the death of a major, yet controversial, character at Liberty High.
The core cast's graduation from high school will be featured in the final season, and Season 3 will debut on August 23 with 13 more drama-filled episodes.
Season 3 is set to pick up eight months after the events from Season 2, focusing on Clay (Dylan Minnette), Tony (Christian Navarro), Jessica (Alisha Boe), Alex (Miles Heizer), Justin (Brandon Flynn), and Zach (Ross Butler) discovering methods to handle the cover-up together while helping Tyler (Devin Druid) move on from his issues.
A turbulent Homecoming football game leads to the disappearance of a key player, and Clay becomes the subject of a police investigation. A shrewd outsider must guide the group from the danger which could release everyone's darkest secrets.
According to Variety's source, suicide will not be part of Season 3.
Timothy Granaderos, Anne Winters, Steven Weber, Brenda Strong. Amy Hargreaves, and Grace Saif will also feature in Season 3.
Showrunner and creator Brian Yorkey will executive produce with Mandy Teefey, Kristel Laiblin, Selena Gomez, and Joy Gorman.
The show is based on the novel of the same name by Jay Asher, which wrapped up at the end of the pilot season. Season 1 gained notoriety for its depictions of teenage suicide.
Season 2 was regarded as a step down from the first season, with critics and fans alike disapproving of the storylines. Netflix have only recently edited out the scene in Season 1 where Hannah (Katherine Langford) commits suicide.
The scene now shows Hannah staring at her own reflection in the mirror before cutting to her parents’ reaction in a later scene, without showing the gruesome wrists-slitting bath scene.
"On the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we’ve decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from season one," a statement from the show read.
Netflix has deleted the controversial suicide scene from season one of 13 Reasons Why, two years after the show originally aired.
In a statement released by the streaming site yesterday, Netflix said;
“We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help—often for the first time.“
"As we prepare to launch season three later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show," they added.
After consulting with psychologists and doctors, Netflix made the important decision;
"So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we’ve decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from season one.”
The scene instead now depicts actress Katherine Langford, who plays the show's protagonist Hannah, staring at her own reflection in the mirror before cutting to her parents' reaction in a later scene.
There is no longer any depiction of Hannah's suicide. The graphic and undeniably harrowing scene first aired during the season one finale, and showed Langford slicing her wrists with a razor blade before dying in a bathtub of blood.
The show faced immediate backlash regarding the depiction of suicide, with many activists and health professionals expressing concerns that the scene could contribute to copycat suicides among teenagers.
“It was our hope, in making 13 Reasons Why into a television show, to tell a story that would help young viewers feel seen and heard, and encourage empathy in all who viewed it, much as the bestselling book did before us,” showrunner Brian Yorkey wrote in a statement.
He added; “Our creative intent in portraying the ugly, painful reality of suicide in such graphic detail in season one was to tell the truth about the horror of such an act, and make sure no one would ever wish to emulate it.
"But as we ready to launch season three, we have heard concerns about the scene from Dr. Christine Moutier at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and others, and have agreed with Netflix to re-edit it," Yorkey emphasised.
"No one scene is more important than the life of the show, and its message that we must take better care of each other. We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers.”
Image: Instagram/@13reasonswhycast
A number of suicide-related organisations and industry professionals have showed their support for Netflix' move, including; the American Association of Suicidology, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American School Counselor Association, Stanford’s Dr. Helen Hsu, Mental Health America.
Cedars-Sinai’s Dr. Rebecca Hedrick and The Trevor Project have released a joint statement regarding the news;
“We support the decision to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from 13 Reasons Why. There has been much debate about the series in the medical community."
Image: Instagram/@13reasonswhyedit
They added; "But this positive change will ensure that the show continues to encourage open conversation about mental health and suicide prevention – while also mitigating the risk for the most vulnerable teenage viewers.”
The streaming service originally added a new advisory video in front of the second season episodes, with stars Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford, Justin Prentice and Alisha Boe explaining to viewers how they can get help if they are negatively affected by the show.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings later defended the show, saying, “It is controversial, but nobody has to watch it.”
The news of the show's choice to edit the suicide scene was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Six Love Island stars have slammed the show, claiming it left them feeling "suicidal" after they were treated like "performing monkeys".
Malin Andersson, Josh Denzel, Paul Knops, Adam Collard, Callum MacLeod and Alex Miller have banded together to write a scathing letter accusing ITV producers of pulling strings behind the scenes.
The former reality show contestants claim they felt depressed and worried following their stints on the show, and they've decided to speak out following the suicides of Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
The deaths have sparked a huge debate regarding how Islanders were treated during their few weeks in the Spanish villa and the aftercare they received when they left.
Changes were made this year to the way the contestants were looked after once they were dumped from the show. ITV released a statement following Mike's suicide this year.
"Our duty of care is a continuous and ongoing process for each Islander. This follows three key stages; pre-filming, filming, and aftercare," they insisted.
"We work with both an independent GP and a psychological consultant to provide an assessment of the physical and mental health of each of the shortlisted cast members and their suitability for inclusion on the programme."
"We have a medical team on location which includes a psychological consultant. They not only look after Islanders’ healthcare needs, but also monitor them to check that there are no emerging signs of any problems developing whilst they are in the villa.
"Additionally, several of our senior team, who monitor the cast around the clock, have been trained in mental health first aid." Six former Love Island stars have now spilled their true feelings on the series.
Alex Miller says he struggled to adjust to real life after his romance with Megan Barton-Hanson in the villa last year, tellingThe Ringerthat he had suicidal thoughts after fame went cold and he had to return to his job in construction.
Image: ITV/REX
"I never thought I would get into that mind frame. But I would be driving to work, contemplating ending things." Love Island bosses contacted a psychologist on his behalf after he opened up about these thoughts.
"From a Love Island perspective probably about five months after I was out of the villa and it had all died down and I was in a bit of a dark place and partying too much, I did have a rant on here and one of the Love Island producers got in touch and put me back in touch with a psychiatrist."
"They interviewed me, they knew my personality, and then they put me in the villa and said, ‘You’ve got 48 hours to steal someone’s girl, otherwise you’re gone’."
Adam was told that his career "a world of good" if he could "cope with this mentally" with the bad press that would come his way.
Callum MacLeod, who was the first of 2019's Islanders to be voted out of the show, spoke out to confirm that Islanders do get aftercare when they leave.
Callum said they were shown a video about trolling, which was created by former Islanders and detailed life on the outside.
Josh Denzel, from last year's series, said receiving cruel comments online was difficult to deal with. Friends who ran his account stopped posting online due to the hateful comments they read.
Paul Knops, from 2018's round-up, opened up about his anxiety;
He said: "You go through anxiety. It can be pretty stressful. And then you go back to your own home, and there’s no one really to talk to about what you’ve been through. It all comes down to dealing with stuff on your own, and not everyone’s great at that."
Other Islanders have defended Love Island and the aftercare;
Olivia Buckland spoke to the Daily Mail about her time on season two: "I was in constant contact with the producers for a very long time. I got offered psychological tests when I got out.
"I got offered counselling when I got out. I got a list of agencies. Honestly, they really did look after me, and Alex. They always checked in with us, and I’m still good friends with them now. Love Island is there for you if you need them."
"When I came out of the villa ITV sat down with me and went through everything that had happened to make sure I was prepared. I don’t blame ITV for any of this – they’ve been amazing," she emphasised.
"They are in regular contact and whenever anything difficult happens they make an extra special effort to check in on you to see if you’re OK. I’ve got the number of the show’s psychologist in my phone and I know I can call her whenever I need to.”
Alex George, who appeared in series four, told ITV News: "I can only talk about my own personal experience of course, and I’ve felt that when I’ve asked for help, I’ve received it."
Olivia Attwood (season three) wrote in her New! magazine column: "I think when you put yourself in a situation like this, it’s always a risk and you need to decide whether you’re strong enough to do it.
"I’ve been subject to a lot of negative comments from trolls in the past year, but the only point it really got to me was when I first came out," she added, referencing her thick skin developing.
Chris was elevated so much in the press, whereas I was a bit hated. It was a lot to deal with because I knew a side to Chris that no one else had seen. But even then ITV were so supportive to me."
"My advice to Islanders coming out is to brace yourself and keep as much normality as you possibly can because I always say to myself that this isn’t your real world. You’ve got to keep things in perspective.
"You were happy and existed before you went on TV, so you should be happy and exist after it all goes away."
Tom Powell, who took part in series two, told The Sun: "The show was crazy. But they took care of us. Anyone who says otherwise is talking bulls**t."
"This morning Love Island called me and said I could call the psychologist who works for the show. They gave her new number. He was one of the first person to speak to us.
"After you leave the show you speak to the psychologist and you were always checking in with her. We had a lot of care after the show. They took great care of us," he assured.
Chris Hughes, who appeared on series three, spoke out on Victoria Derbyshire: "Before the show you see a psychologist, and after the show before you head back to the show you see a psychologist.
"In the series that I was in you spoke to somebody before, and they make sure you're fine, and during your time in the show, you can also speak to somebody," he said, defending reality television.
"And then afterwards before we flew home to the UK, still when we're within a duty of care from ITV, we have an opportunity to speak to somebody.
"We speak to them regardless, that's set in stone. So they can prepare you for what to expect when you land back in England.
"One thing I will say is when I filmed another show with ITV, another reality show, mine and Olivia's, we were given support by a psychologist there for whenever we wanted it and me and Olivia spent hours separately and together speaking to her because they were worried about that side of things with us. It's obviously a massive help."
It sounds like mixed messages from former Love Island stars. On the one hand, if you're built with a thick skin or develop one, it seems the aftercare is sufficient.
On the other hand, certain contestants receive far more trolling than others, and work dries up for many, which can be majorly anxiety-inducing.
Fans of the show are currently worried about Amy Hart, who has just voluntarily left this year's series after her brutal break-up with her first love; Curtis Pritchard.
Vicky Pattinson has cautioned fans of reality television shows such as Love Island against writing hateful comments online about individual contestants, emphasising that their words have direct consequences.
The TV star referenced the two suicides of Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon following struggles with mental health, emphasising the fact that these television personalities are human.
The star has faced online vitriol as a result of her roles on Geordie Shore, Ex On The Beach and I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, so she has a level of empathy for those who essentially become famous overnight.
Posting an image of the two former Love Island contestants to her Instagram, Vicky wrote;
"What do you see here?! Let me tell you what I see; two beautiful, charismatic, fun loving and young people who should have had the world at their feet and their whole lives ahead of them. Instead, they left this world all too soon not knowing just how loved they were."
"Now I haven’t managed to catch any of this year’s Love Island. I’ve barely been in the country since it started. But I still read the news, follow the fan accounts, and my group chats still go off every time it’s on… what I’m saying is it is impossible to avoid the reality TV juggernaut." Vicky continued.
"I just want to say I think the show is great- and I’m friends with so many of the ex-Islanders who I love a lot. But today I made the mistake of reading some people’s comments on social media when I couldn’t sleep and I’m not going to lie I was both shocked and saddened by what I read."
Love Island bosses have stepped up mental health services for the contestants, and even cite 'mental health pressures' in the contract.
Vicky warns those who use social media to use caution, and remember that the contestants do read the hateful things written about themselves online;
"Regardless of who your favourite is on this show, who you ‘ship’, who you want to win, if you’re mad that someone’s left, or angry someone stayed, no matter what you actually may think or be saying in your group chat with your mates I urge you to be more mindful across social media."
The show has come under immense scrutiny after two Islanders took their own lives when their time on the show ended, and the emphasis on body image or physical appearance can cause mental health stress.
"Have we not witnessed the detrimental and irreversible affect our thoughtless words and reckless opinions can have on someone’s mental health?! Why are people still attacking these islanders with such verbal vitriol?!" Vicky said.
"Do you know them personally?! Of course not! Have they done anything to warrant it?! No way. Are they human?! YES! These people are no different to you and me and they have feelings and these hateful comments with have ramifications we can’t even begin to understand."
Mike Thalassitis, who appeared on Love Island 2017, was found dead in a woodland park near his London home in March. Questions arose about the show's aftercare following the 26-year-old's death.
32-year-old Sophie Gradon died in June of 2018 after struggling with depression. The former Miss Great Britain took part in the show in 2016. She was found dead by her boyfriend, who took his own life 20 days later.
She explained to a friend that she 'wanted to escape' and had 'sold her soul' to appear on the infamous ITV2 show.
Despite these deaths and warnings to be careful of what you write about reality stars online, Vicky pointed out that the hateful vitriol has continued.
"It’s so ludicrous to me that after everything that’s happened this past year I’m still having to urge people to be kind but here we are. We have lost too many people and I know this isn’t confined to the world of reality TV."
She added;
"Through the callous words of individuals, online hate and cyber bullying we are breaking people, destroying them and it has to stop. Think before you type. Your words have gravity.
"Please be better than this internet culture of hate. Do not allow it to breed. Be kind, be compassionate. Be human. Let’s put the ‘love’ back in Love Island for Sophie & Mike."
Love Island bosses have apparently decided to not pay an on-air tribute to reality star Mike Thalassitis at the beginning of season five.
The former contestant, who took part on the 2017 series alongside Chris Hughes, Kem Cetinay and Olivia Attwood, was found dead in the woods near North London in March.
It is believed that the 26-year-old tragically took his own life after his experience with mental health issues. The inquest into his death is scheduled for this month, so more information is incoming.
The Love Island producers have decided to honour Mike in a tribute on ITV’s on-demand service, which plays the 2017 series and will soon be available as a box-set.
An insider told The Sun: "It felt more appropriate to do it there." It was recently claimed that contestants will have to pass STI tests and mental health screenings to gain acceptance to the new series following Mike's death.
“Bosses want stars to be safe mentally and physically. Their biggest nightmare would be someone contracting an STI, so potential contestants must have several rounds of medical tests," the source continued.
"Advance sessions with counsellors and psychologists have been ramped up to ensure that everyone can handle the fame.They are prepared to cut potentially strong personalities from the line-up if there is any hint of mental instability."
The hugely popular TV dating show returns the first weekend of June with a brand new crop of hopefuls seeking love and fame.
The suicide of 2016 contestant Sophie Gradon last year has led to a major shake-up for the 2019 series, with safeguards to look after contestants being introduced.
Participants will now be given social media training and financial management advice as well.
The creative director of ITV Studios wrote in a statement on the new initiatives: “When something so awful happens we naturally enter a period of soul searching and ask whether anything could have been done."
“This review has led us to extend our support processes to offer therapy to all Islanders and not only those that reach out to us," he continued. Social media, mental health and reality tv appear to go hand-in-hand.
Richard Cowles insisted Mike's death had nothing to do with the show, but improvements had to be made: "The key focus will be for us to no longer be reliant on the Islanders asking us for support but for us to proactively check in with them on a regular basis.”
Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV’s chief executive, insisted it would be ‘extremely tenuous’ to link the show to his passing; "I don’t think anybody has made a direct link between what happened to Mike and ‘Love Island’ and that is very important to say."
Jessie J has shown her vulnerable side to her millions of followers in a new Instagram video, which has currently racked up almost half a million views.
She opens up about her struggles with anxiety and depression while encouraging the younger generation not to "hide their real feelings behind a perfected edited image."
The British artist attempts to hold back tears as she plays the piano and sings, explaining that she's been feeling "kinda off", and wanted to express herself through music.
"I didn't know I would cry. I was live for a minute or two before this moment," Jessie explains "But it's important to be open that we are not always done up and feeling 100."
The 30-year-old is trying to set a good mental health example for younger and older generations, saying; "In a time and a world (especially the social world), sadly vulnerability is often seen as weakness."
She captioned the post; "I’m not posting this for sympathy. Im posting this for anyone who needs to see it (I needed it). This video is from yesterday. I woke up, feeling kinda off. I sat at the piano (which I’ve been avoiding) knowing it will bring some stuff up."
The continued, emotionally expressing her hope that vulnerability can be seen as a strength in the future;
"I’m making it up and feeling my real feelings. I went live as I wanted to share with you guys the moment. I didn’t know I would cry. I was live for a minute or two before this moment. But it’s important to be open… All of us have our days. Yesterday was one of my weird emotional days."
"The younger generation are almost being taught to hide their real feelings behind a perfected edited image. Hence why anxiety and depression in kids is through the roof and only carries to their adult life if it doesn’t change."
"One of the biggest killers in men under 30 is suicide," she said, nothing the shocking statistics, especially for the male gender, who account for eight in 10 suicides in Ireland every year.
"We push our feelings to the bottom of our energy and hope it goes away. It won’t. Don’t define yourself on it. But stand with it, process it and learn from it. Find YOUR happiness. No one can make you happy but you. People can contribute. But ultimate happiness comes from within. It’s a personal journey."
She concluded; "I have said time and time again in recent years I don’t want to be a role model but I want to inspire. To anyone young or older. Let your sadness/pain/grief out. In your OWN way."
"Another thing… TALK to people you love when you are down. Please do not suffer in silence. Life is way too short and ALWAYS GETS BETTER. I’m thinking of you and sending love to your heart," she said.
The singer has been open in the past about her struggles with grief and sadness, especially after the recent death of her head bodyguard over the New Year.
The video is hugely emotional, and we hope it inspires her fans, young and old, to allow themselves to be vulnerable. With the digital age, mental health statistics for young people are worse then ever.
Alongside Prada and Gucci's blackface scandals, major fashion brands have recently come under fire for making some major PC-related errors.
Burberry is the latest company to be added to this list of elite couture scandals, after their autumn/winter collection at London Fashion Week featured a hoodie with strings resembling a noose.
Yes, you read that right. An actual noose, akin to those used for lynchings or suicides. They really didn't think this one through…and now the model who wore the design down the runway has expressed her horror;
Liz Kennedy, turned to Instagram to illustrate her anger and disturbance after she was fitted wearing the hoodie, as suicide touches a personal nerve for her.
"Suicide is not fashion. It is not glamorous nor edgy and since this show is dedicated to the youth expressing their voice, here I go. Riccardo Tisci and everyone at Burberry: it is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway," she wrote.
She stated that the Burberry team "briefly hung one from the ceiling (trying to figure out the knot) and were laughing about it in the dressing room. I had asked to speak to someone about it but the only thing I was told to do was to write a letter."
The brand released an apology statement following a huge wave of backlash after the runway show, and the design is now removed from the new collection.
According to Fortune, Marco Gobbetti, Burberry chief executive officer, said;
"We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by one of the products that featured in our A/W 2019 runway collection. I called Ms. Kennedy to apologise as soon as I became aware of this on Monday and we immediately removed the product and all images that featured it."
He continued, "Though the design was inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection, it was insensitive and we made a mistake."
The fashion faux pas follows Gucci's debut of a $890 balaclava sweater that evoked blackface images earlier this month.
1/3 Gucci’s first four initiatives in a long-term plan of actions designed to further embed cultural diversity and awareness in the company. pic.twitter.com/xMIMn9PNDR
Liz Kennedy also mentioned the impressionable young women who would see the noose hoodie;
"How could anyone overlook this and think it would be okay to do this especially in a line dedicated to young girls and youth. The impressionable youth. Not to mention the rising suicide rates world wide. Let’s not forget about the horrifying history of lynching either."
"I left my fitting extremely triggered after seeing this look (even though I did not wear it myself). Feeling as though I was right back where I was when I was going through an experience with suicide in my family," she said.
Kennedy also claims that she attempted to speak to someone about it, but was brushed off;
"I had a brief conversation with someone but all that it entailed was “it’s fashion. Nobody cares about what’s going on in your personal life so just keep it to yourself” well I’m sorry but this is an issue bigger than myself."
"The issue is not about me being upset, there is a bigger picture here of what fashion turns a blind eye to or does to gain publicity. A look so ignorantly put together and a situation so poorly handled. I am ashamed to have been apart of the show. #burberry."
The collection, Tempest, is Riccardo Tisci’s second for the brand. Marco Gobbetti has since called Kennedy to apologise personally and address the situation.
"My family and I were recently impacted by suicide so I know how devastating it is when someone you love decides to take their life. I’m not someone who is easily offended or triggered but I knew by the way this piece effected me, it would do the same to many others."
"Whether people are dealing with suicide, mental illness themselves, or someone close to them facing these issues they can’t be taken lightly. Since my post, Marco called me to address the situation."
"I think the response by Burberry and their team since then is commendable. I believe this is a learning moment and they will think about these things more in-depth moving forward."
The model bravely spoke out about the incident, and the brand has responded. It just goes to show that fashion isn't completely rigid, and it's valuable to call them out on their mistakes.
"The positive that has come out of this is a reminder of the power of one voice, and the good that can be done when brands are held accountable."
Netflix' Bird Box has consistently found itself in the headlines, mainly because of how absolutely ridiculous the whole debacle is.
The movie sparked a change this week in YouTube's guidelines after people began posting videos of themselves carrying out potentially dangerous acts while blindfolded, such as driving.
The streaming giant even had to come out and tell viewers not to try the so-called 'Bird Box Challenge', but now the company is under fire for using REAL footage from a 2013 rail disaster.
In 2013, a 74-car freight train transporting crude oil derailed beside the small Canadian town of Lac-Mégantic, and resulted in the tragic deaths of 47 people.
At first, Netflix refused to edit its post-apocalyptic horror flick after it was criticised for using footage of the disaster. A spokesman told AP it had no plans to remove the footage; “We will keep the clip in the movie.”
Now, it has been reported that the streaming service will be exploring ways to prevent this from happening in the future. BBC reports that Netflix has used footage of the tragedy before, in the Canadian-American science fiction show Travellers.
Julie Morin, mayor of Lac-Mégantic, criticised Netflix for using the upsetting footage, telling The Globe and Mail: “You can be sure we are going to follow up on this, and our citizens are on our side.”
Peacock Alley Entertainment, who produced Travellers, released an apology and said they unintentionally dishonoured the Lac-Mégantic incident and would replace the footage.
Pond 5 also stated their regret that the footage had been ”taken out of context and used in entertainment programming”. They apologise “to anyone who was offended, especially the victims and their families”.
Paris Jackson, daughter of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, is seeking treatment for issues relating to her emotional and mental health.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Paris is currently living in a mental health facility following a whirlwind year of work engagements, new music releases, photoshoots and public appearances.
A source spoke to ET, saying; "After a busy year of work engagements that took her all over the globe, Paris decided that she needed to take some time off to reboot, realign and prioritize her physical and emotional health."
"She checked herself into a treatment facility to aid in her wellness plan and is looking forward to coming out of this revitalized and ready to tackle the exciting new projects that await her," the insider added.
The young model suddenly ceased sharing any images on social media from the middle of December, and failed to join her family on holiday in Toyka over Christmas.
This is an unusual move for the star, who is very close with her younger brothers especially. Her followers then began to speculate that her mental health may have been suffering.
The 20-year old has had a manic year career-wise, and had to face the heartbreaking death of her grandfather Joe Jackson.
She has been hugely sought after in the fashion world, and since her Hollywood debut, it's apparent that the youngster is a new 'It Girl' on the scene.
Paris last hit the headlines in September 2018 for calling out paparazzi who were verbally attacking her as she left a New York Fashion Week event.
She has regularly discussed her struggles with self-confidence and depression, which drove her to attempt to commit suicide for the first time when she was only 13-years-old.
She later attempted to take her own life again aged 15 multiple times, leading her to enter a therapeutic school;
"I was going through a lot of, like, teen angst. And I was also dealing with my depression and my anxiety without any help," she told Rolling Stone in 2017.
Are you a lover of PHASHUN but are searching for a great cause to donate to? Well, boy do we have the event for you.
Faisean Éire's unique Fashion Showcase will exhibit stunning pieces from novel Irish designers tonight at 7pm in the Chocolate Factory, and it's set to be quite the night.
Proceeds from the evening will be donated to Pieta House, whose 'Two in Eight' campaign reflects the statistic that one in four people in Ireland will experience mental health issues at some stage of their lives.
Performances will include a catwalk show with 30 gorgeous and unique pieces designed by 10 fashion grads and students.
The show will bring three art forms together in a spectacular charity event; a fashion show from professional and diverse designers, murals on the walls of an industrial setting and last but not least, aerial artists showcasing their skills.
Chloé Commins and Polly Shapkina are two aerialists featured in the event, who will be using hoops and silk to impress the fashion-forward guests.
The pioneering show 'Two in Eight' marks the shocking statistic that one in four people in Ireland will suffer from mental health problems; Pieta House will use the funds to help counsel those with suicidal ideation.
Sinéad Ronan Wells, Fundraising Executive for Pieta House, commented on the vital need for events such as these;
“Pieta House operate a network of centres across the country, employing 270 qualified therapists. In 2018 we saw over 7,000 clients who were either at risk of suicide, engaging in self-harm, or bereaved by suicide," she added.
"Demand for our one to one, free, professional counselling services continues to grow year on year which would be unattainable without public fundraising initiatives such as this," she concluded.
It's a crucial cause, why not attend a catwalk show of ground-breaking Irish artists for only €25? Don't miss your chance to get the first glimpse of Ireland's future famous faces.
Get your tickets here for the special Faisean Éire showcase, tonight at 7pm in the Chocolate Factory, Dublin.
