Denise Welch Reveals Heartbreaking Battle With Her ‘Unwelcome Visitor’ on Live TV
Loose Women star Denise Welch has courageously opened up about her recent battle with depression, referring to the condition as her “unwelcome visitor.” During a heartfelt segment on the show, Denise spoke candidly about her struggles, offering insight into the isolating and complex nature of mental illness.
The conversation was introduced by Kaye Adams, who set the stage by acknowledging Denise’s term for depression. “Denise’s ‘unwelcome visitor’ has been making its presence known,” Kaye said.
Denise didn’t shy away from sharing the raw reality of her experience. “Yeah, so I had a really rough two weeks, which I’m still in a bit,” she revealed. “I just did a podcast and a big article saying how I’ve been free for five years of clinical depression. Sadly, the unwelcome visitor paid me another visit, so I’ve not been well for a couple of weeks.”
She went on to explain how crucial support and understanding are during these periods. “I just wanted to come on here because what I need when I’m poorly is for my friends to just know that I need time to get well.”
Denise shared that she had been absent from the show the previous week, as she needed the flexibility to focus on her mental health. She compared her situation to fellow panelist Janet Street-Porter’s return after surgery. “When Janet returned, it was up to Janet to say, ‘I’ve had hip surgery, I feel well enough to come back.’ It’s up to me to know when I’m well enough to come back,” Denise explained.
Discussing the unpredictable nature of depression, Denise added: “The only thing that people will relate to if they have depression is, I’ve been free of the morning fear for a long time. I can be okay today, but then tomorrow, I can be absolutely terrible, and it’s isolating.”
Providing further insight, Denise distinguished between sadness and depression, saying: “The NHS describes depression as an ongoing sadness, but sadness is a natural emotion triggered by specific events. Depression is different. Depression does exactly what it says on the tin—it depresses every single emotion. You feel a flatness to things you usually get emotional or have feelings about; it robs you of that.”
As the segment wrapped, Denise thanked her Loose Women colleagues for their unwavering support, admitting that work can be a helpful coping mechanism. Her openness was met with a warm round of applause from the audience, followed by a heartfelt hug from Janet Street-Porter.
Kaye Adams, visibly moved, exclaimed: “Oh my god!” She then added: “It’s amazing for you to share that side of yourself, Denise. I know a lot of people watching will be very, very grateful. We love every version of you.”
Social media lit up with support for Denise’s honesty. One viewer tweeted: “How terribly brave of you, Denise. Mental health is tough. Sending love.” Another wrote: “Thank you, Denise, for your powerful words today. It’s so important mental health is spoken about openly.”
Denise’s willingness to share her journey continues to inspire many, breaking down the stigma around mental health one conversation at a time.