Singer-songwriter Ronan Keating said he sees a therapist when he’s “feeling fragile” during a discussion on men’s mental health on Loose Women’s first all-male panel.

The popular ITV daytime programme was rebranded Loose Men on Thursday to mark International Men’s Day.

Keating was joined on the show with JLS star Marvin Humes, Love Island narrator Iain Stirling and radio presenter Roman Kemp.

Counselling

And Boyzone star Keating opened up about his experience of counselling, and said his wife Storm would suggest he speaks to his therapist if she notices he is stressed.

He said: “I’d like to think we’re a generation where we can be at the forefront to start to make a change. Speak about it. Don’t be scared to speak about it.

“We’ve got young children in the household and to be able to be more open about it and be able to tell your kids you love them.

“My parents, my dad in particular, he came from a generation where he found it hard to say he loved us and put his arm around us.

“We’ve very much changed. Today we can be big enough to be able to speak about it in the household.

Feeling fragile

“I get help whenever I’m feeling fragile, if I need to lean on somebody.

“My wife can tell if maybe I’m overstressed, I’m working too hard, things are getting on my back or maybe it’s a certain date that reminds me of something that’s happened or someone’s passed away.

“I talk to Dan, my therapist. Storm might go ‘do you think it’s time to talk to Dan?’

“He gives me tools. I learn how to use those tools, take them home and maybe be a better person.”

Comedian Iain added: “What would be great is for us to normalise as men talking about feelings.

“This shouldn’t be an incredible thing that we’re doing.

“Men should be able to chat to each other, to professionals and family members about how they feel.”

School counselling

Roman, who hosts Capital FM’s breakfast show, said there needs to be more counsellors in schools, echoing our campaign for a paid counsellor in every secondary school, academy and FE in England.

“We need to be teaching boys at school to open up,” he said. “It’s important to learn to defend yourself against your own brain.

“I was at school not long ago and I didn’t once get taught how to deal with stress in life and my own mental health.

“There needs to be more done for the kids – 50% of schools these days don’t have any form of counselling and that for me isn’t good enough.”

To speak to a BACP counsellor or psychotherapist, visit our Therapist Directory.