CAROLINE Flack’s best friend Lou Teasdale has paid touching tribute to the star on World Mental Health Day – urging fans to “be kind”.
The 36-year-old stylist was one of the last people to see Caroline alive before she took her own life at home in North London on 15 February this year.
Taking to her Instagram page today, Lou posted a smiling black and white photo of herself with the TV favourite.
In the snap, Lou is sticking her tongue out, with Caroline grinning as she pops her head over her pal’s shoulder.
The grieving mother-of-one simply captioned the post: “It’s cool to be kind #worldmentalhealthday ”
Followers were quick to share their support, with one commenting: “I still can’t believe this happened.”
Another wrote: “She is so missed.”
Lou had stayed with Caroline the night before her death – leaving her home at 9.30am, with the Love Island presenter found dead just hours later.
She has regularly paid tribute to her friend in the months that followed – including marking six months since her passing with a series of bittersweet photos of the fun they’d had together.
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
Lou’s post came ahead of Strictly Come Dancing’s moving tribute to Caroline this evening, with the star winning the show in 2014.
The emotional episode honoured Caroline – with the touching words and heart-wrenching montage of her best bits on the programme leaving viewers in tears.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
