This article contains discussion of subjects including mental health issues that some may find distressing.
Ravi Gulati’s (Aaron Thiara) mental health storyline continues in EastEnders next week.
The BBC soap has been airing an ongoing plot surrounding the character’s wellbeing over recent months, as he has began to self-harm and became paranoid that his family were in danger.
Executive Producer Ben Wadey said of the story: “EastEnders always takes great care when researching storylines such as Ravi’s and we’re grateful to Samaritans for the advice they have given us, helping us ensure Ravi’s story is told with the care and sensitivity it deserves.”
During episodes that aired earlier this week, Priya Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) attempted to take Ravi to Walford Hospital to seek urgent medical attention after he held their family captive inside their flat.
Tensions were at an all time high when Ravi revealed that he was the one who’d mistakenly attacked Nugget in January, and the only thing that would calm him down was the promise that they could leave Albert Square and start a new life.
Of course, this was Priya’s way of driving him to the hospital, and it didn’t take him long to spot signage directing to the emergency department on their journey. Nugget began to suffer another seizure, and as Priya took her eye off the road, their car collided with Max Branning’s (Jake Wood).
Ravi then discharged himself from hospital early, climbing to the top of the Turpin Road viaduct and refusing to get down.
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His horrified family watched on, though following some reassurance from son Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) that everything would be ok in time, he made his way to safety. On the ground, the police were waiting to section him under the mental health act.
In the forthcoming scenes, viewers will see him receiving treatment at a secure mental health unit. Before long, practitioners come to the conclusion that he has complex PTSD and a therapy plan is put in place.
EastEnders is working with Samaritans on the storyline, with Lorna Fraser, Head of Media Advisory Service at the charity, saying: “Storylines responsibly reflecting experiences of mental health and suicide can help tackle stigma and encourage viewers who might be struggling to talk about how they are feeling.
“We’re proud to have supported EastEnders with covering Ravi’s self-harm and mental health crisis sensitively and grateful for their efforts in making this as safe as possible. We hope it helps anyone watching to seek support if they need it.”
Read more:
- 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Nigel Bates’s tragic story ends as Grant Mitchell returns
- EastEnders first-look pictures reveal Grant’s return – and Mitchell family reunion after 10 years
- EastEnders reveals Vicki and Zack’s blackmailer in early BBC iPlayer release – and it’s not who you’d expect
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
