Reality TV star, Kirk Norcross, says he "hit rock bottom" after his Haslingden-born father took his own life last year.

Now, he has been announced as an ambassador for a suicide prevention charity and says he is “living proof” that sharing dark thoughts can save lives.

Kirk, who rose to fame on ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE), will front PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide charity and plans to smash the stigma around mental health and suicide.

Kirk’s Blackburn-raised dad, Mick Norcross, was found dead in January 2021, aged 57, after taking his own life.

In interviews, social media posts and television appearances, Kirk revealed that he spiralled into depression and also suffered from traumatic PTSD flashbacks after finding his body.

He has since revealed that he planned to take his own life and also had relapsed into his cocaine addiction after the loss of his dad.

In an interview with PAPYRUS, Kirk said: “I’ve gone through hell. I’ve gone through suicidal thoughts, suicide ideation, seeing my father’s suicide.

“Now, I use my platform to talk about my experience and my triggers.

“When my father left us I was thinking ‘I miss this with my dad, I miss that with my dad’. Now I think of all the positive times we had together.”

Lancashire Telegraph: Mick Norcross. (Photo: Ian West/PA)Mick Norcross. (Photo: Ian West/PA)

According to Kirk, he had no idea at the time that Mick, who was born in a Haslingden sweet shop in 1964, would attempt to take his own life.

He said: “If dad had told me he was struggling I would have helped him. I would have done whatever it took.

“I would have showed him how good life is and supported him emotionally, financially – anything I could have done I would have been at his beck and call.

“I was an emotional wreck after he died. I didn’t know if I wanted to be here – but now I know I want to stay.

“But the good thing about me hitting rock bottom was there was only one way up,” he said.

Kirk even added that he has a "phenomenal amount of money at one point" that "just went".

He said: "I've realised, that I don't want that again. I just want to be happy. I've got my children, my family and my health - that's all that matters."

Kirk is now a champion of self-care, believing people need to be more open and share their fears and anxieties.

He said: “I see a lot of men in particular who are struggling, strong men who think they can’t speak to anyone about how they feel.

“It doesn’t mean you are any more or less of a man to say you’re upset and struggling.

“Don’t feel like you have to take the pressure of life on your own. If you’re struggling, please just reach out.”

Kirk has recorded a podcast for PAPYRUS, which has its head offices in Warrington, in which he talks about his suicidal thoughts and new ambassador role.

"I’m delighted to become an ambassador for PAPYRUS,” he said. “I believe it’s so important to all work together and end the mental health stigma. 

“I'm living proof that it really is ok not to be ok and contact with people is the most effective way to get us all to talk.

“Social media has helped me to open up, it enables us all to bring personal experience into the public domain with the potential to help others who may be struggling," said Kirk.

A spokesperson for PAPYRUS said: “Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK and we believe many young suicides can be prevented.

“Sharing lived experience of suicide can give strength to others and we would like to say a big thank you to Kirk for supporting us as we continue giving hope to young people who are struggling with life.”

You can watch the full podcast on the Hopecast YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Gfe7weMR4Fw