01 August 2023 , 08:44
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EastEnders will air emotional scenes next week, as Ben Mitchell opens up to his loved ones about his secret battle with his mental health. While some residents know that he has been struggling recently, they have no idea Ben is secretly battling an eating disorder.
Viewers learned earlier this year that Ben was suffering from bulimia, while he still dealt with trauma after his rape ordeal last year. Still coming to terms with what happened to him, he experienced more heartache as his close friend Lola Pearce, the mother of his daughter Lexi, died after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Before Lola's death, Ben had been hiding his eating disorder and his true grief for Lola, as well as his trauma from his rape ordeal. Ben was attacked by bar worker Lewis last year, but Lewis got away with the crime, only for him to strike again elsewhere.
Lewis was finally arrested and charged for another rape, and Ben was notified. The news sent Ben spiralling, as he was reminded of what happened to him months earlier.
This, his trauma he has kept bottled up and his secret eating disorder have left him struggling to cope in recent scenes, while not many characters have noticed what is really going on. Ben has found himself being called out by loved ones since Lola's death over his behaviour, with them not seeing the full truth of the Mitchell's struggles.
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EastEnder's Ben Mitchell has been hiding a devastating mental health battle (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)Spoilers for next week now reveal that one resident grows concerned for Ben after noticing how he is around food, and later on a second concerned resident reaches out to him. Honey Mitchell, who two years ago struggled with bulimia, notices Ben's loss of appetite.
She tries to get Ben to open up, fearing for his mental health, as she shares on her own experiences with bulimia. Ben lashes out at her, though, and orders her to leave. Alone, Ben breaks down in tears while the next day, Honey confides her fears in Ben's husband Callum Highway. Ben believes she has told him everything and once again lashes out at her, this time in front of his horrified family.
The pair soon go for coffee though, and Ben admits what's going on as Honey begs him to let Callum in. Ben begins purging again though after a difficult chat with his father Phil Mitchell. Callum arrives home early and catches Ben but when Callum tries to talk to him, he once again lashes out. He storms out and is found by stepmother Kat Slater. Discovering why he's upset, Kat offers her perspective as a fellow survivor of rape and warns him he will destroy himself if he doesn't get help.
Ben agrees to seek help for his trauma and attends a support group with Kat by his side. Later in the week, Ben and Kat go to the assessment, where he finally starts talking about his mental trauma – but will he open up to Callum and his family?
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
For help and support on eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 801 0677.
If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email [email protected]
If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999