A host of British stars including Ant and Dec, Gordon Ramsay, Holly Willoughby, David Walliams and Laura Whitmore are starring in a new mental health campaign.
ITV’s Britain Get Talking features more than 20 of the nation’s famous faces speaking in a video call about staying connected.
The advert raises the importance of reaching out to people during these unprecedented times of lockdown and isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lending support: A host of famous faces including will.i.am, Ant and Dec and Holly Willoughby feature in a new campaign for mental health awareness
The initiative launches at the start of Mental Health Awareness week and will debut on TV on Monday evening.
In the impressive roll call of stars lending their support to the project and featuring on the video are: Ant and Dec, Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby, will.i.am, David Walliams, Gordon Ramsay, Harry Redknapp, Laura Whitmore, Iain Stirling, Jim Carter, Jason Watkins, Julie Etchingham, John Barnes, Lorraine Kelly, Maggie Alphonsi MBE, Anna Friel, Emma Willis, Charlene White, Tinie Tempah, Davina McCall and Sheila Hancock.
Ant said: ‘We are huge supporters of ITV’s Britain Get Talking 2020 campaign which has been highlighting the importance of people connecting, even more so now than ever. It’s incredible that as a result of the campaign more than 6 million people have got in touch with someone so far.’
At home: Gordon Ramsay starts the video chat with the stars, assisted by his daughter Tilly as the family self-isolate in Cornwall
Helping out: Among the stars lending their support are Ant and Dec, Julie Etchingham (bottom left), Jim Carter (bottom centre) and Laura Whitmore (bottom right)
Famous faces: The campaign, which will premiere on TV on Monday night, features the celebrities taking part in a video call
Dec added: ‘So for this Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re stepping it up another notch and asking people to reach out beyond their immediate family and close friends.
‘Who could you reach out to who might really appreciate it? Britain, let’s keep talking.’
The video shows Gordon Ramsay and his daughter Tilly loading up a video chat before others such as David Walliams and Julie Etchingham join one by one.
Unprecedented times: Phillip Schofield (top left), Tinie Tempah (top right), Sheila Hancock (bottom left) and Jason Watkins (bottom right) are urging Britons to reach out to friends and family
Get talking: The initiative launches at the start of Mental Health Awareness week and will debut on TV on Monday evening
The celebrities then each read out a line of a message which says: ‘It’s been a funny old time, to say the least, and who hasn’t felt over these past few weeks a bit lost and out of sorts?
‘That’s why keeping in touch has never mattered more. A pixelated face on a video chat or a voice on the phone can help ease stress and reduce anxiety.
‘Even a little text goes a long way and it makes you feel good too. And while it might be easier to talk to your nearest and dearest, it’s so important to look beyond your inner circle.’
The new campaign comes as ITV research carried out by YouGov showed that 55 per cent of us are more worried than usual about our families’ mental health during the lockdown.
Joining forces: The Love Island power presenting couple Iain Stirling (left) and Laura Whitmore (right) feature among the more than 20 famous faces
Timely: Research has shown that 55 per cent of us are more worried than usual about our families’ mental health during the lockdown
Meanwhile 57 per cent of us are more conscious than usual of the need to look after our mental well-being.
But others have found positives during their isolation, with a third of people saying they have got back in touch with old friends and family.
The video continues: ‘To the elderly uncle who’s self-isolating, the quiet guy at work you see from time to time, the old friend you somehow have lost touch with, or the ones who live on their own and far away.
Important message: The celebrities take it in turns reading out a line of a message, telling Britons to look out for each other
Making a difference: Since its return on March 21, the campaign Britain Get Talking has seen over 6.1 million people take immediate action to text or call a friend or family
‘Remember them, reach out to them, let them know you care. Because the ones who are not expecting your call could be the ones who need it the most.
‘This Mental Health Awareness Week, show a friend you’re thinking of them. Britain Get Talking.’
Since its return on March 21, the campaign Britain Get Talking has seen over 6.1 million people take immediate action to text or call a friend or family.
Paul Farmer, chief executive at Mind, said: ‘Many of us are worried about coronavirus and how it will affect us and those we love and, for those of us with existing mental health problems, we may never have felt more isolated or alone.’
The film will debut on ITV and STV in the ad break for Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh just before 21:00pm and is supported by charities Mind and YoungMinds.
On air: The film will debut on ITV and STV in the ad break for Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh just before 21:00pm and is supported by charities Mind and YoungMinds