Mel B reveals that a 10 year ‘controlling’ relationship’ left her with PTSD and ‘horrendous’ anxiety

Melanie Brown has revealed that she suffered with daily anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks after living in a ‘coercively controlling relationship.’

The Women’s Aid Patron, 46, is showing her support for the charity’s new campaign, Deserve To Be Heard, which she will be discussing in Parliament next week. 

The aim is to urge the government to fund local domestic abuse services, after statistics revealed that almost half of women reported feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts as a result of the domestic abuse they had experienced.

Of her own experience, The Spice Girl candidly told The Sun: ‘I wanted to literally physically scrape myself clean of my abusive ex-partner, but it’s harder to scrape away the memories and start to repair the emotional damage.’

The mother-of-three also revealed that she was financially abused, having no access to her own money whilst she was married. 

Mel admitted that she is renowned for being ‘confident and outspoken as Scary Spice’ – and despite feeling ‘at home’ on stage, she believed that many may have viewed her as the last person to feel ‘totally trapped and alone’ in her marriage. 

Wanting voices heard: The Women’s Aid Patron, 46, is showing her support for the charity’s new campaign, Deserve To Be Heard, with the aim to urge the government to fund local domestic abuse services

A concern: Women’s Aid statistics revealed that almost half of women reported feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts as a result of the domestic abuse they had experienced

Making a difference: After releasing her 2018 book Brutally Honest, Mel was asked to be patron for Women’s Aid

The popstar is keen to get the government to listen to survivors of domestic abuse, as well as providing specialist mental health support. 

The Health and Care Bill 2021-22 is currently at committee stage in the House of Commons. 

Mel described it as a ‘vital opportunity’ to highlight women’s experiences and the support they require after leaving an abusive relationship. 

Candid: Mel admitted that she is renowned for being ‘confident and outspoken as Scary Spice’ – and despite feeling ‘at home’ on stage, she believed that many may have viewed her as the last person to feel ‘totally trapped and alone’ in her marriage (pictured in 1997)

The television personality also said that domestic abuse can cause many women’s mental health issues, which is why she believes the Government’s Women’s Health Strategy is also really important to improve health care for women.

‘I know from personal experience that all survivors need and deserve support services for mental health, so they can recover from the abuse and damage that leave too many women at their lowest point,’ she said. 

Mel will be delivering a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson about why the Deserve To Be Heard campaign is so close to her heart – and will joined by her mum, who she didn’t speak to for many years during her controlling relationship.

Campaigning: ‘I know from personal experience that all survivors need and deserve support services for mental health, so they can recover from the abuse and damage that leave too many women at their lowest point,’ Mel said.

‘An abusive relationship can rip apart the connections you have with your friends and family. 

‘The effects for me have been long-lasting, and if you have a child with your abuser, going through the family courts can be traumatic,’ she remarked.

Mel is firm in the fact that there is just not enough support available, especially when ‘the abuse doesn’t end when the relationship ends’.

Her talks with MPs will further stress that she wants all survivors to be heard – and get the support they urgently need.

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Brave: Mel’s talks with MPs will stress that she wants all survivors to be heard – and get the support they urgently need