Jake Quickenden has opened up about his battle with depression following the death of both his brother and father when he was younger. The 27-year-old revealed that the tragic moments pushed him "into a downward spiral" until he found solace in music.
The X Factor star told the Loose Women presenters how important it was for him to open up about his grief after both his brother and died due to bone cancer.
© Photo: RexJake opened up about his brother's death
"I struggle with it, because he was my little brother and I should be looking after him, and I went into a downward spiral," he said on Wednesday.
"I'm not here talking like I want pity for it, why I have decided to talk about it is, I want people to know that you can come out of it and you will be all right."
© Photo: RexThe singer revealed his father had also passed away
Jake explained that after he lost his brother Oliver at 19, he did nothing for a year: "I was just going out and getting so drunk I couldn't remember anything. I'd lay in bed all day and be depressed.
"I didn't want to burden my mum with it because she had just lost a son and I didn't want to talk about it with my mates because I'm not the only person that loses somebody, everybody has lost someone," he added.
© Photo: RexThe star said he battled depression following both deaths
The former I'm A Celebrity contestant agreed with presenter Janet Street-Porter that it was difficult for men to open up about depression. "I dealt with it badly. I dealt with it with drinking a lot, I went out most nights and drank myself stupid," Jake said.
"If all I could say about anyone going through the same thing is, don't be afraid to talk about it. Talk to your family."
The star, who is about to release his first single Blindfold, was supported on the show by his girlfriend Danielle Fogarty, the daughter of Jake's I'm a Celebrity junglemate Carl Fogarty.
The pair had a whirlwind romance when they were first introduced in December 2014 – and, as they revealed exclusively to HELLO!, moved in together soon after.
