Corrie’s Tina O’Brien opens up about suffering from postnatal depression

She's spoken out for the first time

Tina O'Brien

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

Coronation Street actress Tina O'Brien has opened up about suffering from postnatal depression after she had her daughter, Scarlett. The 35-year-old, who has played Sarah-Louise Platt on the soap on and off since 1999, took on the 10-Year Challenge to speak out about the illness.

Sharing two photos of herself with her daughter, who she shares with ex-boyfriend and former co-star Ryan Thomas, Tina revealed that she'd suffered from the illness after having her daughter and finding herself single.

Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas
©Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas in 2006 © Getty Images

She wrote, '#10yearchallenge wouldn’t be complete without my incredible 10 year old daughter. I wish I could tell the scared and fragile Tina of 10 years ago it’s going to be ok, you will get through this. I had very bad post natal depression even looking at the pic on the left reminds me how bad it was and that makes me so sad.'

Tina wrote that she wishes she'd 'had the confidence to ask for help' as 'life felt pretty dark for a little while', but that the 'dark days eventually lifted'. She wrote, 'I was then a single mum, times when absolutely no income was coming in. I’d be lying if I said it was easy. 2009 was a tough year But to get through things sure as hell makes you stronger.'

Swipe through to see all the Coronation Street spoilers for next week...

Gallery

Coronation Street spoilers: week 4

Corrie spoilers1 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Amy has been hiding a big secret. She bunks off school to visit a fertility clinic, telling the nurse she's pregnant and needs the abortion pill.

Corrie spoilers2 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

But the nurse tells her she needs a responsible adults consent. Amy asks Liz to meet her, and confides in her about her pregnancy.

Corrie spoilers3 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Liz manages to convince Amy to speak to her parents, and leads a traumatised Amy back home.

Corrie spoilers4 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Steve is furious, and instantly jumps to conclusions. He storms round to the corner shop and accuses Aadi of getting in daughter pregnant.

Corrie spoilers5 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

But Tracy is more gentle, and manages to get some information out of Amy, who insists it was consensual sex that happened at a party just before Christmas.

Corrie spoilers6 of 34

Corrie spoilers

Tracy accompanies Amy to the clinic, where she is told she'll need an ultrasound scan before they can assess what kind of termination she needs.

Corrie spoilers7 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

But they're both horrified to learn Amy is 10 weeks pregnant and will need a surgical abortion. Tracy turns to Amy demanding the truth.

Corrie spoilers8 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Steve has caught Amy discussing her situation with Simon, and instantly jumps to conclusions. He expresses his suspicions to Tracy.

Corrie spoilers9 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

The two of them head over to Peter's house and accuse Simon of being the dad. Simon insists it's nothing to do with him.

Corrie spoilers10 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Later on, a run in in the street turns nasty when Tracy lays into Leanne about Simon. Having already spoken to Simon herself, Leanne vehemently defends his corner.

Corrie spoilers11 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Meanwhile, the dry rot in Audrey's house has got so bad it's inhibitable. Sarah and Gary are frustrated when Gail insists Audrey move in with them, leaving the couple to sleep on the floor in the living room.

Corrie spoilers12 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Nicole has turned up to the street to visit Eileen, and Gary is thrilled to see Zack.

Corrie spoilers13 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

But clocking the expensive clothes Gary has bought him, Sarah quietly seethes, knowing how strapped for cash they are.

Corrie spoilers14 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Sarah is fed up of living at the Platts, especially as they're now without a bedroom. She's even more furious when she learns Gary has been for lunch with Nicola and Zack, and a potential job for Audrey has fallen through.

Corrie spoilers15 of 34

Corrie spoilers

Gary begs Nick for a pay rise, but he refuses.

Corrie spoilers16 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

After drowning her frustrations at the pub, Sarah accepts Adam's offer of a night cap, eager to avoid Gary.

Corrie spoilers17 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

The two of them flirt over a bottle of wine, but how will Sarah react when Adam goes in for a kiss?

Corrie spoilers18 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

As Sarah leaves Adam's flat, the two of them are spotted by Seb from across the street.

Corrie spoilers19 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Assuming Adam is hassling Sarah, Seb steps in and gets aggressive warning Adam off Sarah.

Corrie spoilers20 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

But Adam is having none of it and swings a punch, hitting Seb and knocking him to the floor.

Corrie spoilers21 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Sarah brings Seb back to hers to recover, but when Gary comes home she lies and says Seb was attacked by a stranger. Will Seb play along?

Corrie spoilers22 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

At the hospital, Sinead finally gets a chance to bond with baby Bertie, tentatively putting her hand in the incubator.

Corrie spoilers23 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

But she gets a fright when his ECG alarm goes off. The nurse calms her down and tells her she's done nothing wrong.

Corrie spoilers24 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Carla confides in Shona that she's worried about Roy, as it's approaching the anniversary of Hayley's death and she hasn't heard from him.

Corrie spoilers25 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

When she takes a call from Sylvia saying she can't locate Roy, she panics, and reports him missing to the police.

Corrie spoilers26 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

When he eventually shows up, he apoligises and says he's been trainspotting. The next day over lunch at the Bistro, Shona tells Roy and Carla that Sylvia's been taken seriously ill.

Corrie spoilers27 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Roy rushes to Hastings to see Sylvia at the hospital, but it's too late. When he returns home he tells Carla that Sylvia has died from a heart attack, and Carla's heart breaks for him.

Corrie spoilers28 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Sally has got wind of Abi's interview and offers to help her practise. On the day, it's going well until the interviewer asks Abi to explain the gaps in her CV.

Corrie spoilers29 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Panicking, Abi lies and says she was traveling in Botswana. Eventually though, she relents and explains she's spent time in prison. Has she missed her chance?

Corrie spoilers30 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

On her way home from the interview, she bumps into Peter working on his boat. The two of them exchange some flirty chat.

Corrie spoilers31 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Tyrone is concerned about Evelyn after she doesn't show up for bingo, and forgets to collect Ruby from school. He urges her to see a doctor about her memory problems, but Evelyn is brisk and dismissive.

Corrie spoilers32 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Tyrone secretly follows Evelyn to an unknown address and watches as she's invited in by a man in a wheelchair. Following behind her, the man introduces himself as James.

Corrie spoilers33 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

James explains that Evelyn took him under her wing when his parents died, and the two of them go on holiday together every year.

Corrie spoilers34 of 34
CREDIT: ITV

Corrie spoilers

Tyrone is surprised, and inexplicably jealous, to learn there's a side of his gran he's never known about.

She went on to say that she's had some 'incredible highs, great opportunities and jobs', and has met some 'wonderful people' who she's still in touch with, and paid tribute to her 'beautiful, kind' daughter.

She concluded, 'Feeling in a very wonderful place in 2019 married to the most caring and incredible man I could ever wish to have met. Sometimes I still can’t believe you picked me @adamcrofts I feel so loved and I feel so bloody grateful to be a part of our little family. I’ll never take any of it for granted I promise.' [sic]

Fans praised Tina for speaking out, with many writing messages of support under the post. One wrote, 'You're such an inspiration 💞 glad you're in a good place and wish you every happiness' and another added, 'Very lovely & inspiring post! Well done to you!'

She also responded to a lot of comments from her fans who opened up about their own experience with postnatal depression, wishing them well and sending kind words.

NOW WATCH: "Those girls are now our Wives!" Westlife on Comeback, working with Ed Sheeran & Parenthood

If your favourite music icons are the Spice Girls and your favourite Ks are Kylie and the Kardashians, you need heat Radio in your life! heat Radio is portable, so you can listen to us on the move. Simply download our app from your phone’s app store or listen on DAB Digital Radio UK, on Freeview Channel 716 or online at heatradio.com and at heatworld.com. We’re on all the smart speakers too, just say “play heat Radio."

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us