Ashley Banjo admits he struggled with an ‘overwhelming sense of negativity’ for the first time after the birth of his second child in lockdown
Ashley Banjo has revealed he struggled with mental health lows for the first time after the birth of his second child Micah in lockdown.
The Diversity star, 31, said that as he tried to care for his newborn son, two months, and his young daughter Rose while his wife Francesca recovered, he battled an ‘overwhelming sense of negativity.’
Ashley added that for the first time in his life he ‘failed to find any positives’ during a period in lockdown, and credited his family for helping him through such a low point.
Tough: Ashley Banjo, 31, has revealed he struggled with mental health lows for the first time after the birth of his second child Micah in lockdown
Ashley told The Sunday Mirror he was charged with caring for both of his children after wife Francesca was left bed bound following a Caesarean section.
The Dancing On Ice judge explained that for the first few weeks of lockdown he found things challenging, especially as he lost large amounts of work due to the pandemic.
He said: ‘I felt this overwhelming sense of negativity that I’ve never felt before. I’m a positive person, I always try to have a positive outlook.
‘I was sitting there going, if someone said to me now, ”Ash, where’s the positives in all of this?” I would struggle to find any.’
Hard: The Diversity star said that as he tried to care for his newborn son (pictured) and his young daughter Rose, he battled an ‘overwhelming sense of negativity.’
Ashley added that the support of his family helped him through such a challenging time, saying: ‘I realised the world is different but we just have to adapt. As long as we all tackle it together, we’re all good.’
The dancer welcomed his second child with wife of five years Francesca on 26 March, just days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson placed the country in lockdown. The couple are also parents to daughter Rose, 16 months.
Ashley went onto admit that after spending so much time with his two children, he’s going to find it challenging to be apart from them when lockdown comes to an end, especially given Diversity are set to go on tour again next year.
Challenges: Ashley added that for the first time in his life he ‘failed to find any positives’ during a period in lockdown, and credited his family for helping him through such a low time
Family: Ashley welcomed his second child Micah with wife Francesca just days after the UK was placed in lockdown. The couple are also parents to daughter Rose, 16 months
In May Ashley also said he’d been struggling with life during lockdown, in a candid Instagram post, but added he’d been keeping strong with the help of his loved ones.
The caption read: ‘I can’t lie – the past couple of weeks have been tough mentally.
‘I’m the kind of person that always tries to inspire and motivate others. But this week I’ve never been more grateful for my family (at a distance!) giving me that energy back.
‘I’ve needed them more than I thought I would… But I feel back, present and ready to overcome whatever is put in front of me, like I always have.
‘Me and my @diversity_official team have come so far, But there’s still so much more… Adapt and overcome right?! First things first… Back to some kind of fitness #lockdown #covid19 #nextchapter.’
Doting: Ashley went onto say he’s now embraced life as a hands-on days, and worries about being apart from his children when the lockdown is lifted