Denise Welch emotionally opened up about her mental health struggles, including postnatal depression, as she appeared on Good Morning Britain.

The Loose Women panellist, 64, reflected on how she experienced postnatal depression following the birth of her eldest, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, as she discussed the long he later wrote about her struggles, titled She Lays Down.

Opening up to hosts Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis on Wednesday, 17 May, she said: "It was the most terrifying thing, and the reason we see tragic headlines is because people don't want to die, they want to stop the pain.

"Had I not had my family, I was then married to Matty’s dad, I would not have survived.

"Matty grew up knowing mummy had episodes of being poorly and when he was a successful performer he said, 'I've written this song for you'."

Becoming emotional, Denise continued: I used to like, I still get emotional about it, because I sad to Matty, when he was older I wouldn't have traumatised him as a child.

"But I used to lie down on the floor and, I'm not religious, but I used to pray to something to help me love my child."

As her voice cracked, Denise:added "Because it took away the ability, depression takes away your ability to love.

"And that's when my spiral into, you know, drink and drugs and all the horrors that then happened, thankfully sober eleven years, but that's why. There's no excuses for things but there's often reasons for things."

It comes just one month after the former Waterloo Road shared a post on Instagram reflecting on her 11-years of sobriety and urged people to consider their own relationships with alcohol.

Sharing some photos, one of herself during her addiction battle, she wrote: "11 yrs sober today!!! Giving up my disastrous relationship with alcohol changed my life, my husband's life and my children’s lives. Plus the lives of all who love me.

“It wasn’t easy. Addiction is a cruel and frightening illness. But together @lincolntownley and I realised that we were destroying many lives including our own and we did it.

“I now have a wonderful marriage that is the foundation of my life. Our kids are happy and I hope those of you struggling find the strength to stop.

"If alcohol no longer makes you happy, if your drinking makes others lives miserable, it’s time to stop. There is help there if you need it."

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