Coronation Street star Dolly-Rose Campbell hints Gemma's mental health will be explored
Coronation Street star Dolly-Rose Campbell has hinted that the show will be exploring a mental health storyline for Gemma Winter.
The ITV soap has recently been showing personal struggles for Gemma, who has doubted her parenting abilities since becoming a mum to quadruplets.
Next week's episodes see Gemma attend a baby senses class with the quads, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the story.
Class leader Vanessa and her friend Imogen make an effort to get to know Gemma, complimenting her on her parenting skills. Gemma laps up the attention, unaware that the spiteful pair are mocking her behind her back.
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Speaking about the new storyline, Dolly-Rose explained: "Gemma finds it quite comforting to meet other mums who seem to be supportive of her and meet other mums who are going through similar struggles to her – and that is just with one baby. She had felt very isolated as she doesn't have friends who have babies.
"On the face of it, Vanessa and Imogen are not Gemma's usual type of people. They seem very posh, neat and tidy and well put together. They look like they are in control and are breezing through motherhood, so in some way they are what she aspires to be.
"They are the Freshco's personified. So to be accepted on the face of it by these yummy mummies makes her feel great and less alone.
"Gemma doesn't know that they find her a figure of fun and are laughing at her, not with her, which is awful. They aren't genuine at all. They like her because it gives them someone to look down on. She makes them feel better about themselves because they are grateful they are not like her and they are coping better than her."
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Dolly-Rose added that there may be more to Gemma's low moods than initially meets the eye, hinting at a possible depression story.
She said: "Meeting these women, while she enjoys spending time with them, isn't helping Gemma's feelings of inadequacy. But as time goes on, it is going to become clear that there is more to it than that.
"Gemma has no idea that this may be a medical problem – she does not know that at this stage."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.
We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Organisations who can offer support include Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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