Roman Kemp reveals he suffered with depression aged 15

Roman Kemp has revealed that he suffered with depression aged 15 and says his mother saved his life when he suffered a mental health crisis 18 months ago. 

The radio host, 28, said he knows how ‘dark it can get’ and that antidepressants are now ‘just part of his life’ as he discussed the increasing problem of male suicides. 

He told The Times: ‘I have the best parents any kid could ever imagine. I had the best upbringing anyone could ever imagine.

‘I have a safe place that I can call home. I have great friends. But at the age of 15 I suffered majorly with depression.

‘Since then I’ve taken antidepressants and that’s just part of my life. I know how dark it can get if ever I come off of those tablets and those kinds of thoughts come into play.’

It comes as Roman is set to front a new BBC documentary called ‘Our Silent Emergency’ about male suicide and mental health.

He decided to make the one-off special in a bid to ‘show that there are ways to reach those who are suffering’ after the sudden and unexpected death of his best friend, radio producer Joe Lyons, in August 2020. 

In the documentary Roman will discuss how his mother Shirlie ‘saved his life’ after he suffered a mental health crisis just 18 months ago. 

He told The Times how on that day he got himself into ‘such a state’ that he felt he ‘just wanted that state to stop’.

Roman described how he was sitting on the floor of his house and knew that he had to call his mother to tell her, unsure what would happen if he ‘hadn’t had her there’.

He says the situation was made more confusing because things in his life at that point were ‘absolutely phenomenal’ and he struggled to understand why he was having those feelings.

He went on to explain how his mother stayed on the phone with him and drove to London to be with him on a day that was ‘the lowest in my life I’ve ever been’.   

Roman went on to describe how as a teenager he kept his depression a secret from his friends. 

He says he was never taught how to prepare mentally to ‘become a man’ and that there is too much pressure to ‘get a job’ and ‘make money so you can feed a family’. 

He added that now he is in his twenties he is more confident about his mental health and is ‘super happy’ when he is on the radio, but that everyone still ‘has their moments’.   

Roman also spoke about the days following the tragic news of his friend Joe Lyons’s sudden death last year.  

Joe was a well-loved producer at Global radio for nine years and died in August last year. His cause of death has not been confirmed. 

Roman said that the days after Joe’s death ‘were a complete blur for him’ and that he wishes he could have spoken to Joe about how he had been feeling.  

He says he now wants men to ‘proactively go out there and check your friend group’ and that he still feels guilt and regret over his friend’s death.   

After Joe’s death, Roman emotionally addressed fans on his show Sunday Best, which he co-hosts with his father Martin Kemp, urging them to ‘reach out’. 

Paying tribute to Joe, he said: ‘Before we can start with our usual show, you may have read that it’s been an incredibly hard week for me personally, as I lost my best friend…

‘It has completely devastated his family, friends, me, my family. I really want to make sure that I use this time right now to say if you are struggling, then please know that you can reach out…

‘There is always someone you can talk to: your family, friends, colleagues… or anyone from the support charities that are out there…

‘At ITV there is the mental wellness initiative called Britain Get Talking, which encourages all of us to reach out and talk to someone.’  

At the end of the show, a photo of Joe was shown, with the episode dedicated to him.

Roman also had a tattoo tribute inked onto his leg, to honour his late friend.        

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.