Kieran Tompsett, star of The Traitors, is looking forward to his next TV project and hopes to collaborate with Katie Price on it.
Last year, the 42-year-old consultant from Hertfordshire joined up for the reality show, where he began as a Faithful before being persuaded to become a Traitor by star Wilfred Webster.
Making it all the way to the conclusion, Kieran pulled off a ‘parting gift’ in the last seconds of his time on the programme that helped reveal his fellow Traitor to the other three participants, allowing them to finally take home the prize money themselves.
Kieran is now focusing on another TV role, but he wants to utilise it to raise awareness about PTSD.
Kieran, who was just named an ambassador for PTSD UK, stated that translating his experience with the disease to film was something he’absolutely had his eye on.
He also stated that he would like to collaborate with Katie Price, who published a documentary last year on her own experience with the disease.
‘That would be great, yeah 100%, a lot of women have also reached out to me after my interview, some of the messages are so upsetting but I always try to respond to them the best way I can,’ he said when speaking to the Daily Star.
‘Though it’s a bit of a minefield with what you say to try and help people, as we aren’t trained professionals, so getting two people and a professional on board would work really work. But if you can stop people from thinking those thoughts, then what harm does that do? Nothing, only good.’
He added: ‘I’m going to try to get a documentary, or a chat show, or something where we can all talk about stuff as it’s not really a taboo subject now, things are changing and it’s for the better.’
Speaking about his previous difficulties with his mental health, Kieran said it all came to a head after nearly being killed in a knife assault, losing his young nephew, and then losing his mother.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.
Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt.
These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on the person’s day-to-day life.
PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months or even years later.
It is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience.
You should see a GP if you are still having problems about four weeks after the traumatic experience, or if the symptoms are particularly troublesome.
Explaining he ‘didn’t know’ he suffered from PTSD at all when he was younger, he described how he ‘went off the rails’ and ‘never got help at the time’.
‘Then when I lost my mum it consumed me and I had suicidal thoughts, they’re all very different types of trauma, but they all follow similar patterns, which is PTSD really,’ he added.
He said that looking back now after his lowest points, he realised there was ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ and ‘you have to get help’.
‘Luckily I came out the other way but I’ve had close calls in life, where I wouldn’t be here, so if we can help people and raise awareness then would mean a lot,’ he added.
In her documentary, titled Trauma and Me, Katie, 44, said she spoke about how her diagnosis came after experiencing a number of struggles in recent years, including a terrifying carjacking in South Africa in which she was raped at gunpoint while her children were nearby.
She also said her ‘horrific’ relationship with men had also contributed.
The Traitors is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
