Jess Wright has candidly admitted she ‘wanted the world to stop’ during her ‘debilitating’ battle with postnatal depression.

The mother-of-one, 39, who shares son Presley, two, with her husband William Lee-Kemp, discussed her trauma in a short BBC film to raise awareness for other people.

The former TOWIE star bravely spoke about her own experience with depression and ongoing battle with anxiety as she spoke to women and families who have also been deeply affected by it.

Up to 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men develop mental health problems such as depression or anxiety during pregnancy, or in the first year after childbirth.

In the clip which airs Friday, Jess says: ‘Since my mid-twenties I’ve lived with depression and anxiety. I take medication which generally keeps it under control. 

‘However, a few days after I had my son Presley I developed depression in a way I’d never experienced before – it was debilitating.

Jess Wright, 39, has candidly admitted she ‘wanted the world to stop’ during her ‘debilitating’ battle with postnatal depression

The mother-of-one, who shares son Presley, two, with her husband William Lee-Kemp, discussed her trauma in a short BBC film to raise awareness for other people

‘I couldn’t enjoy anything with my new son and I wanted the world to stop so I could get off.’

Speaking to Dr Lynsey McAlpine, a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, about where women can go for support, Jess revealed she wasn’t given clear advice about her own medication during her pregnancy.

She said: ‘It was quite a grey area when I was pregnant, about the medication that I’m on, whether I should come off it when I’m pregnant.’

Jess added: ‘Having a baby is wonderful but also tough for many people.

‘But knowing where to turn for support, has helped me feel better prepared if I decide to have another child.’

Last year, Jess opened up about her son Presley’s devastating health battle as she revealed she prays to God in hopes that he will be fine.

She announced in August 2024 the devastating news that her son had been diagnosed with a rare congenital heart disease called ‘Bicuspid Aortic Valve’. 

Bicuspid Aortic Valve only affects one percent of the population and means the heart valve has only two small parts, called leaflets, instead of the normal three. 

The former TOWIE star bravely spoke about her own experience with depression and ongoing battle with anxiety as she spoke to women and families who have also been affected by it

Up to 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men develop mental health problems such as depression or anxiety during pregnancy, or in the first year after childbirth

Jess says: ‘Since my mid-twenties I’ve lived with depression and anxiety. I take medication which generally keeps it under control. However, a few days after I had my son Presley I developed depression in a way I’d never experienced before – it was debilitating’

Last year, Jess opened up about her son Presley’s devastating health battle as she revealed she prays to God in hopes that he will be fine 

She announced in August 2024 the devastating news that her son had been diagnosed with a rare congenital heart disease called ‘Bicuspid Aortic Valve’ 

Jess and William met in May, 2019, tied in the knot in September, 2021, and then welcomed their first born in May, 2022

In a new interview, the reality star ᴀssured that her son is doing well but that he will require monitoring & care over time.

She told Closer: ‘It’s debilitating and it’s awful, but it is what it is. We have to learn to live with it now and pray to God that every result we get is good until he has to have surgery.’

Jess also said that you would never guess anything wrong just by looking at her son because ‘he’s a little dream’.

When asked when Presley will go for surgery, she said that she is unsure at the moment, but explained how she would take away his pain in a heartbeat if she could.

She continued: ‘I would swap my heart with his any day of the week. I pray to God every night that he will be fine.’

Jess and her husband William met in May, 2019, tied in the knot in September, 2021, and then welcomed their first born in May, 2022.

Morning Live airs weekdays at 9:30am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Made by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions. 

WHAT IS A BICUSPID AORTIC VALVE?

A bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a heart defect that typically develops when two of the aortic valve’s three flaps fuse during fetal development. The aortic valve controls  blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, this being the main artery that supplies blood to the body. 

It is the most common congenital heart defect, affecting an average 1.3% of adults and 1% of the general population. It is more prevalent in girls than boys. 

Long-term it can be a cause of heart failure, but BAV symptoms might not be evident until adulthood, commonly in middle age. Symptoms include: Shortness of breath with exertion, Chest pain, Lightheadedness, fainting, rapid and irregular heartbeat and pale skin.*

*Via John Hopkins Medicine and Cleveland Clinic