KYLE Kyle’s suicide sent a devastating ripple through Hollyoaks as his family and friends grapple with his death.
Tuesday’s first look episode dealt with the aftermath of Kyle’s death, including informing his partner Nancy who found a voicemail Kyle had left her just days before his death.
Kyle – who had been struggling with depression – tragically took his own life in after reconciling with Nancy Hayton.
His best mate Darren – who is in his own battle with depression – tragically found his body.
The episode opened with Darren turning up to Nancy’s house with police to let her the bad news.
As Nancy takes in what he’s told her, she struggles to understand why it would happen.
She says: “This doesn’t make any sense, he was fine… people don’t take their life for no reason.”
In that moment she learns Kyle had depression and never knew about it, news which left her in shock.
Darren admitted Kyle had opened up to him about his depression.
He told Nancy: “Kyle had depression… he told me… and he had tried this before.”
“The only reason he told me this is because I’ve been struggling with depression too.”
The rest of the episode showed people’s different reactions to his death including questioning why Kyle didn’t speak about his depression.
Neighbour Ollie Morgan said: “It’s hard for people to speak up when they’re in pain, especially lads.”
Darren’s dad, Jack, pleaded with his son to come to him for help if his depression got so bad he would consider suicide.
But the scene that left viewers in tears, came at the end of the episode when Nancy remembered Kyle had left her a voicemail he’d told her not to listen to.
Nancy trembled as Kyle opened up about a “darkness” living inside of him that he didn’t think he would ever get over.
The camera panned over family photos, including one of Nancy and Kyle smiling lovingly and then cut to Jack telling Kyle’s parents the bad news.
One Twitter user wrote: “As a severe mental illness survivor (barely) that episode was heartbreaking- I hope hollyoaks sweeps the awards next year as they truly deserve it. They handle storylines like this extremely well and the acting was exceptional, well done everyone!”
The Channel 4 soap worked with mental health and suicide prevention charities on the emotional plot.
Kyle had been battling depression and drug addiction for years on the show and he recently turned back to drugs to self-medicate his depression after his relationship with Nancy began to go downhill.
Friends and family were devastated by the news as the struggle with his death following a long-running struggle with depression.
Despite not screening his suicide, Hollyoaks’ viewers were left devastated at the death of a long loved character on the E4 soap.
Many took to Twitter to celebrate the storyline and the soap’s sensitive handling of an important issue.
One Twitter user wrote: “This is storyline is breaking my heart. But it’s so important to show Awareness #Hollyoaks. Please speak out.”
While another added: “You never know what’s going on behind closed doors. Be Kind Always!”
A third said: “It’s not as easy opening up about your mental health as folk think it is #hollyoaks”
Hollyoaks worked with the Samaritans, Mind and local charity James’ Place to create the story.
Kyle’s death came only weeks after he talked friend Darren – who has also been battling depression – down from a ledge.
Channel 4 bosses decided not to show Kyle’s death on screen, only showing viewers will the aftermath as his family and friends try to process the awful news of his suicide.
Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said: “Hollyoaks’ writing team have been laying the building blocks of Darren and Kyle’s individual stories for some time, carefully exploring the nuances that comes from two men living with depression in two very different ways.”
For anyone who needs help mental health support or suicide prevention, please contact Sane on 07984 967 708 or [email protected].
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