“Bridgerton” star Ruby Barker shared that she has been hospitalized for an undiagnosed mental health condition but says Shonda Rhimes has helped support her during he recovery.
In a video posted on Instagram, the actress told her followers that she has been “really unwell for a long time.”
“I just want to be honest with everybody, I have been struggling. So, I’m in the hospital at the minute, I’m gonna get discharged soon and hopefully get to continue with my life and I’m gonna take a little bit of a break from myself,” said Barker.
Statistics show that Black people seeking treatment are less likely to be offered evidence-based medication, therapy, or psychotherapy than their non-Black counterparts.
Barker urged her supporters to seek help if they, too, are struggling with mental health.
“And I want to encourage others, if you are struggling, please do yourself a favor. Take a break, stop being so hard on yourself. And people used to always tell me not to be so hard on myself, and I never really, really knew what that meant,” Barker added.
The actress starred as Marina Crane Thompson, a distant cousin of the Featherington family. She was sent to stay with her relatives, who introduced her to the elite Bridgerton circle. However, Marina discovered she was pregnant and scandal followed.
Barker previously dropped out of a West End production of “Running with Lions” after testing positive for COVID-19. She says she is patiently awaiting a diagnosis and will allow herself time to heal.
“And now, I’m at a point where I have a diagnosis, and I will talk to you about that at another time. But I have a diagnosis, and I am relinquishing myself and forgiving myself and drawing a line in the sand. I can’t carry on the way that I’ve been carrying on. I need to change. So, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
