Shona is facing a challenge far more daunting than any soap plot and is set on confronting her anxiety and depression during I’m A Celebrity.
EastEnders star Shona McGarty is determined to tackle her mental health challenges while in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
After 16 years on Albert Square, Shona is facing something far more daunting than any soap storyline. She’s entering the show with a resolve to confront the one thing that has held her back more than anything else.
She explained: “My mental health, my anxiety, and my depression have been really difficult over the past four or five years, and it has stopped me from doing a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve reached a point in my life where I don’t want to let anxiety control me.”
Speaking openly about her struggles with mental health for the first time, Shona admitted that the past few years have been some of the toughest of her life.
“I mean, even talking to you now makes me really nervous, but it’s something I want to do to challenge myself and prove that I am bigger than this anxiety,” she explained.
Growing up on screen as Whitney Dean brought pressures she struggled to cope with.
“Being in this industry at such a young age, when people ask ‘are you okay?’ you feel like you have to say yes,” she said. “That’s kind of what I was taught… you fake it to make it, basically. But that can take its toll, and I think it did, because at the end of the day, we’re all human.”
Shona revealed that therapy and medication have helped manage her anxiety, though she admitted she still has difficult days.
“I panic and I don’t know why… I’m just learning as I go,” she added.
Shona admitted she feels “a bit nervous that my anxiety might flare up” while in the jungle.
However, she added: “If it does, I’m sure the people in the camp will support me, and I just want to be able to say, ‘you know what? I’m not having a great day, and that’s okay.’”
She also spoke about her “amazing” support network, which includes her family and the BBC, praising the broadcaster for its approach. “They had systems in place for young people to have a voice and talk about how they’re feeling,” she explained.
Yet, self-doubt still crept in.
“There’s always that voice in the back of your mind saying, ‘Is it unprofessional to admit I’m not okay?’ You worry about losing your job or being written out. You don’t want to fail in your career, so you just keep going. But by doing that, things only get worse, and I think that’s kind of what happened to me,” she explained.
Funny and down-to-earth, she laughed about the attention she received upon arriving at Brisbane airport, where reporters and photographers were waiting.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that before… it was a first for me,” she smiled.
Considering the popularity of her EastEnders role as Whitney, it might be hard to imagine.
Shona has never been one to seek the spotlight, especially in recent years when her anxiety made her hesitant to take part in shows like Strictly Come Dancing.
“They expect you to be happy and confident all the time, just because you’re an actress and that’s your job,” she explained.
Since leaving Walford in May last year, Shona has been well-received in theatre and has also pursued a music career. But for now, her focus is on the jungle, where she hopes to use the platform to raise awareness about mental health.
In recent years, contestants like Danny Jones and Sam Thompson have been praised for speaking openly in camp about their struggles.
“I think it’s really important to talk about it. Over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed a lot of young people saying they struggle with anxiety and depression,” she said. “It’s tough growing up now—I wouldn’t want to be 16 in today’s world.”
Her family has been extremely supportive of her plans to go Down Under.
“They were so excited for me because they know saying yes to something like this is a big deal for me, given my mental health,” she said.
Shona also believes her upbringing could be an advantage in camp.
“My mum would say I’m a bit of a tomboy. I spent a lot of my childhood outdoors, digging for worms and climbing trees,” she explained.
Laughing, she revealed her mum had just one worry.
“The only thing she said was, ‘how are you going to cope in this heat? I’m so pale, so Irish, and see-through—I’m not sure I’ll manage. I hope there’s some shade, otherwise you might see me with prickly heat.’”
- Two I’m A Celebrity contestants have been sent packing from the jungle following a shock double elimination twist.
- General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison Shares Behind-the-Scenes Christmas Movie Photos
- General Hospital Spoilers: Joss Struggles After Vaughn Vanishes – Will Someone Intervene in Time?
- General Hospital Spoilers: Trina Confronts Portia About Pregnancy Secret – Does Isaiah Overhear?
- General Hospital Spoilers: Is Britt Still Hurt Over Jason Picking Carly, or Is She Just Looking Out for Him?
