Stacey’s bipolar symptoms get worse
Posted: Friday 9 October 2009
Mind continues to advise EastEnders on the storyline of character Stacey Branning's development of bipolar disorder.
This week sees Stacey's symptoms become more severe, with dramatic consequences. She decides to stop taking her prescribed medication and finds it increasingly hard to cope with everyday life.
Her mood swings and erratic behaviour become more extreme and unmanageable. She begins experiencing obsessive thoughts and hallucinations which have made her fearful and unable to trust even those closest to her.
As Bradley, her on screen ex-husband, leaves Walford to start a new life in Canada and details of their finalised divorce are revealed to her, Stacey's fragile mental state collapses and immediate medical intervention is needed.
Paul Farmer, Mind's Chief Executive, says
It is fantastic that the EastEnders production team and writers have continued their commitment to work closely with us and MDF The Bipolar Organisation to ensure that Stacey's character and external circumstances affecting her condition are portrayed as accurately as possible. This storyline shows that neither diagnosis nor coming to terms with medication and lifestyle changes happen instantly. They are part of a long process and this is an important mental health message to send out to those who experience the condition, as well as educating an audience that may not know much about mental ill-health.
This EastEnders episode will be shown on BBC1 at 8pm tonight, and will be available to watch on the BBC website for seven days.