'Glad I held on' A Place In The Sun's Leah Charles King previously tried to end her life

express.co.uk:

A Place in the Sun last year and has become a firm favourite on the show.The presenter has spoken exclusively to Express.co.uk about her battle with bipolar disorder, with the low points leading the star to try to take her life.Leah has been very vocal about her battle with bipolar disorder and is an ambassador for Bipolar UK.She uses her presenting platform and social media pages to normalise the conversation and to end the stigma around mental illness.Leah admitted she has tried to commit suicide in the past as a result of her mental illness but is really happy she held on.Speaking to Express.co.uk she said: "I have been suicidal in the past and you know, on a couple of occasions have tried to take my own life unfortunately."But presenting is something I know I am good at and I have worked hard at."It makes me happy and I don’t do it for fame and fortune."She continued: "I have never been money driven but it really makes me happy."The last time I was quite ill I promised myself I would hold on a bit longer as miracles can happen and I’m glad I held on because here I am!"That is why for two weeks I cried as I felt I was able to breathe for the first time!"She also admitted she was "petrified" and "ashamed" of her bipolar diagnosis and telling others about it."She said: "When I was diagnosed eight/nine years ago, I hid it."I only came out, as I call it, my big coming out, about two years ago."I couldn’t think of anything worse than bipolar because, you know, if you have anything else, people will give you sympathy and they will wrap you up in love."But when you’ve got a mental illness you are very much left alone and it’s already such a lonely condition and I just hid it."She continued: "I was hiding a big part of myself.