Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has received support from friends and followers after sharing a candid update on her recent mental health struggles.

Taking to Instagram, the actress and reality star explained why she’d been absent from social media for the past couple of months, telling fans that she had taken time off after suffering from a bad reaction to medication.

Sharing a photo of herself smiling and doing a peace sign to the camera, Flanagan began: “So basically I really struggled mental health wise December/ January xxx I felt really not great in my head over Christmas and I didn’t really feel that much different when I took the kids away for new year.”

The actress then went on to explain that she had opted to take medication in preparation for her theatre tour to “be able to cope better with being a working single mum of three” as well as helping her process her split from fiancé Scott Sinclair in 2022.

Flanagan’s friends and followers were quick to praise her for speaking candidly about her mental health, as well as offering their support to the actress.

“Sending huge love my.little meerkat angel,” Carol Vorderman wrote, while Corrie’s Lucy Fallon commented: “Love you lots xxxxx.”

“Nice to see you back my girl,” Brooke Vincent added alongside a heart emoji. “Love you lots xx.”