Roman Kemp has bravely opened up about his own internal battles with his mental health and coming out on the other side after stopping his antidepressants
10:00, 19 Oct 2025
Roman Kemp has bravely opened up about his mental health(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Roman Kemp has bravely opened up about his own mental health. The broadcaster, in the past, has been extremely open about his struggles, admitting he’s had suicidal thoughts in the past.
In 2020, Roman’s world was turned upside down following the tragic death of his close friend and colleague, Joe Lyons, known to thousands as Producer Joe, due to his position on the Capital FM Breakfast Show, which Roman previously hosted.
Roman, 32, was told the devastating news while at work after colleagues visited Joe’s home. Joe had failed to show up for work, which was completely out of character for him. The talented producer sadly took his own life at the age of 31.
Following the death of Joe, Roman bravely shared his own experiences with mental health and fronted the BBC Three documentary, Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, exploring the epidemic which is affecting young men.
READ MORE: Roman Kemp forever haunted by one regret about parents – ‘I feel so guilty’READ MORE: Roman Kemp’s mum fuming over ‘stupid’ view of son – ‘it’s ridiculous’Broadcaster Roman Kemp has never shied away from being open about his mental health(Image: PA)In 2020, the presenter was left devastated by the death of his close friend and colleague, Joe Lyons – known as Producer Joe(Image: BBC/TwoFour)
He started taking sertraline, an antidepressant, as a teenager, as well as dealing with suicidal thoughts from the age of 15. Now, Roman has opened up to the Mirror, admitting he’s no longer taking his prescription anti-depressants.
“It’s really hard, I speak about it now, it can come across in a desensitised way,” he said of his documentary focusing on mental health and suicide. “It’s easy for me to talk about because there’s no taboo around it for me, because the worst thing has already happened.”
He went on to add: “It’s a decision that I made when I wanted to make it, and you’re in a catch-22. In one sense, if you said to me, ‘Look at all these people you might have helped with Joe’s story, would you rather have that or have Joe back?’ I’d always just have him back; it sounds selfish in a way. This is the situation we’re in.
“I didn’t make the first documentary to try and help anyone; that was for me to try and understand it myself. I’ve always said, I made it very selfishly to work out what happened to my friend. From someone who had already considered killing themselves, how have I not seen that? It comes and goes, but in the last year for me, it’s been very interesting – I’ve come off antidepressants and it’s been difficult. It’s been a bit more difficult than I thought it would be.” Since Joe’s death, Roman has become an ambassador for Joe’s Buddy Line, offering free, confidential support to people across the UK.
Roman first started taking antidepressants as a teen(Image: Getty Images for The National Lottery)Now, he’s come off antidepressants but admits should if he needs to, he would take them again(Image: Getty Images)
But Roman urged that people in a similar situation shouldn’t try coming off their antidepressants via the cold turkey method. “Never do that,” he stated, adding: “I’ve done that and my doctor gave me a very firm telling off.” Speaking about trying to go cold turkey, Roman said: “I actually ended up in one of the worst places of my life when I did that. But when I did it this time, you came down slowly and came off it. For me, I don’t look at it like a failure; if I’ve got to go back on them, so be it. That’s what’s better for me.”
Despite his achievements over the years, Roman explained his famous dad, Martin, of Spandau Ballet fame, told him that his 2020 documentary would be the “best thing” he would do in his career. “At the time, I was like ‘Do I take offence to that?'” he explained, before saying he told his dad he had a long list of achievements he wanted to tick off.
“He [Martin] goes ‘Those things don’t matter, that matters,’ now when I look back on it, that’s the thing,” he said of his career highlights. And while mental health is no longer as taboo as it once was, Roman has now branched out with the Premier League for their Together Against Suicide campaign.
Suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under the age of 50 and women under the age of 35. Since September 10, every match, across all 20 Premier League clubs, have proudly stood together to show their support and ensure that fans know where to turn to if they need it.
Roman, along with the Premier League, recently launched the Together Against Suicide campaign(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
“I’m really proud of the team,” said Roman, adding: “The whole group, the Premier League, myself, Vinai Venkatesham [Chief Exec of Tottenham Hotspur], I think what we’ve been able to achieve is really good. It’s the start of the campaign. With that, it’s all about how it can carry on.
“That’s the difficult thing, the difficulty is making people realise it’s not just mental health awareness day or month. World suicide prevention day shouldn’t be a thing; it should be every day. That’s the journey we’ve got to go on. I saw an article where Jude Bellingham came out [and spoke about his own mental health] and spoke about going to therapy. Even things like that, I think, because of the narrative we set out with the Premier League – more players are seeing it and going ‘Ok, I can come forward,’ that would be amazing if more players came forward – but that was really for the fans and becoming an intervention point.”
But while Roman’s mental health is on track now, he recently took part in Celebrity Race Across The World with his sister, Harley Moon, 36, which he says was the “hardest thing” he’s ever done. “Doing it with no antidepressants is the most hardest thing ever,” he said, before bravely adding: “I was on the verge of a panic attack constantly.
Taking part in Celebrity Race Across The World with his sister, Harley Moon, was one of the most challenging jobs he’s done(Image: BBC/Studio Lambert)
“Retrospectively, it was the best thing I’ve ever done. I spent ridiculous time with my sister, which we’ve never done. We were always very different to each other, but we also very much misunderstood each other. Going into this experience, I’d never told Harley that I loved her.
“I’d never said that before, I’d never just called her for a catch-up – that’s because I felt we’re two very different people. It was so intriguing to see what relationship would come from that situation. I guess you’ll all see, it’s something that my mum is so proud of that we’re now alive.”
However, the show did come with serious risks. “Our series is dangerous, that’s what I will say – Mexico to Colombia is no joke,” he stated. He went on to say: “It’s one of my favourite shows, out of all of the projects I choose to do, they’re all things I genuinely enjoy or feel an association with.
The show, however, brought Roman and Harley closer together(Image: harleymoonkemp/Instagram)Roman recently teamed up with Marriott Bonvoy as their Getaway Guru(Image: Joe Pepler / SWNS)
“I watch Race Across The World and I look it and go ‘It looks really fun, how hard can it be’, then you go there and you’re crying on day four – it’s horrible, it’s a long time! Seven weeks!”
Roman has recently been announced as Marriott Bonvoy’s official Getaway Guru in partnership with Nectar, a campaign he aligns with due to his love of travel. “I always think when it comes to what people spend their money on, is experiences,” he said, adding: “When it came around, talking about how people can build up points on their weekly shops, it’s a no-brainer. I’m always an advocate for people when they go away to realise that the experience you are buying lasts forever.”
Reflecting on the current state of the country and increased prices, he said: “It’s tough for anyone, being able to provide for your family and give your family those memories. Anyway, that can try to relieve that or give you inspiration, the thought ‘I can do this and I can help towards a hotel or a trip away.'”
But when it comes to planning a getaway, Roman admits he loves holidays, which allow him to learn. “I went to South Africa,” he said, before explaining he sought out a tour guide for his trip. He went on to say: “I like an itinerary. When I go away, one of the best tips I’ve ever had, and I use it all the time now, I try to do a food tour.” This allows Roman to absorb the local culture, as well as the agricultural industry and the socio-economic state of the country he’s visiting.
“I like learning when I go away, I’m always the person who’s like ‘Where’s the history that I can go and find?'” He went on to explain: “It’s such a fun role to take on. I love the idea of helping people rethink how they plan their holidays, and this partnership with Marriott Bonvoy x Nectar is all about that. The research they did was fascinating. Turns out that 41% of Brits spend as much time thinking about their weekly food shop as they do planning their next holiday.”
New Marriott Bonvoy members who sign up via Nectar and link their accounts online will receive 500 bonus Nectar points and all members who link their accounts will earn 500 more Nectar points on each of their next three hotel stays on top of Marriott Bonvoy points earned. To find more information, including terms and conditions, and link Nectar and Marriott Bonvoy accounts head to https://www.nectar.com/brands/marriott-bonvoy
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
If you need support, text Joesbuddy to 85258, where you can talk to a trained volunteer around the clock.
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