James Arthur has urged Jahmene Douglas to contact him after the former X Factor star posted a troubling message on Twitter last week. Jahmene, 26, told fans on social media that he was fighting an "inner battle" with depression and had contemplated taking his own life in a post titled 'This is Me'. "I don't know what to do any more," the lengthy message began. "I feel so broken, lost and worthless. It doesn't seem to matter how much I try to fix myself, who I talk to or what I put in place. It always comes back to this."
Jahmene Douglas caused concern when he posted a troubling message on Twitter last week
Along with concerned fans, James offered his support to the singer, begging him to "pick up the phone". The pair became close after starring together in the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012, with James winning the competition and Jahmene named runner-up. James wrote: "Brother I'm here for you. Answer your phone. I know what you're going through. Pick up."
It comes six months after Jahmene spoke candidly about his ongoing battle with depression during an appearance on Lorraine in September. "I'm struggling daily," he admitted. "Suicide is a thing that you struggle with daily and I'm trying to be honest with that journey. My foundations are built on abuse," he said, referring to his father. "And I have to pick that apart and hopefully come across in the music that the strength is there and the love it there." Jahmene – whose brother Daniel tragically took his own life nine years ago – continued: "You can't let a bad situation define who you are. It shaped me into who I am now, so I wouldn't take anything back."
James Arthur pictured at the 2017 Brit Awards in February
James, meanwhile, has also spoken publicly about his mental health issues. Talking to the BBC's Newsbeat in September, the 29-year-old revealed that he still battles severe anxiety. "At one time it was horrendous and I didn't know what it was. I go through these episodes where I can't breathe and I feel like I'm having a heart attack," he said. "I got really lost and my family could all see it. There was no getting through to me, I was just buried in self-loathing and doing all the wrong things."