BBC editor advised Lynda to have a whiskey to assist melancholy

When TV presenter Lynda Bryans was struggling scientific melancholy, the recommendation from her BBC boss was stark – take a glass of Bushmills and get some sleep.

Thirty years on it has by no means left her husband Mike Nesbitt who, in his function as Northern Eire’s well being minister, recounted the stunning story to a hushed Stormont Meeting chamber this week.

He was participating in a debate on a movement calling for an finish to the stigma round psychological sickness.

He spoke of girls “being advised that they need to recover from themselves and get on with it”.

As we speak the BBC gives free and confidential assist and steerage via its Worker Help Programme, together with counselling.

Nesbitt, himself a former TV presenter, continued: “When Lynda had her scientific melancholy she was working for the BBC in London.

“She got here dwelling for a few days this time and I knew she was not proper.

“I made a decision to telephone her editor – I’d love to call him however I can’t – to attempt to have interaction him and inform him Lynda was not nicely.

“His response was: ‘Pour her a big Bushmills and ensure she catches up on her sleep.’ That was the recommendation.”

The charity Motion Psychological Well being stated stigma was nonetheless an issue although issues have been getting higher.

Chief govt David Babington advised BBC Information NI: “While attitudes in direction of psychological well being have improved considerably during the last 30 years, stigma stays an ongoing problem significantly round extreme psychological diseases.

“With demand for psychological well being assist increased than ever and Northern Eire lagging the remainder of the UK in psychological well being funding, it is extra vital than ever for workplaces to play a task in fostering a tradition of assist.”

This week, the charity launched a brand new well-being hub and membership hub for employers which it says will assist them present pro-active assist to their workers on an on-going foundation.

Ms Bryans has since opened up about her melancholy.

Nesbitt advised MLAs that greater than as soon as somebody, after attending considered one of her talks or studying one thing she had written, had stated: “I consider she saved my life.”