Future episodes of EastEnders will see Lee start to lose focus as he struggles to cope with everyday life.
Lee's sister Nancy will be the first person close to him who notices that something is wrong.
Although Lee does reluctantly open up to Nancy, he decides to continue hiding his troubles from his parents Mick and Linda, fearful of worrying them following their turbulent year.
Danny-Boy Hatchard, who plays Lee, commented: "This is not a subject that only a handful of people can relate to. It's something that at some point most people in their lives will experience on different levels."
Lee's sister Nancy will be the first person close to him who notices that something is wrong.
Although Lee does reluctantly open up to Nancy, he decides to continue hiding his troubles from his parents Mick and Linda, fearful of worrying them following their turbulent year.
Danny-Boy Hatchard, who plays Lee, commented: "This is not a subject that only a handful of people can relate to. It's something that at some point most people in their lives will experience on different levels."
EastEnders has previously been praised for its portrayal of
other mental health storylines for characters including Jean Slater and
Stacey Branning.
A spokesperson for Mind added: "We have a long history of working with EastEnders and are grateful that they are keen once again to tackle mental health in front of such a large audience. Mental health problems are very common, affecting around one in four people, and depression is one of the most common conditions. For some viewers, a dramatic portrayal is the first time they may be exposed to mental health problems and when done well soaps can be a tremendous tool in raising awareness, challenging attitudes and helping to dispel myths. In research we carried out last year, we even discovered that 25% of respondents had sought professional help for their own mental health after seeing a soap character with similar issues."
A spokesperson for Mind added: "We have a long history of working with EastEnders and are grateful that they are keen once again to tackle mental health in front of such a large audience. Mental health problems are very common, affecting around one in four people, and depression is one of the most common conditions. For some viewers, a dramatic portrayal is the first time they may be exposed to mental health problems and when done well soaps can be a tremendous tool in raising awareness, challenging attitudes and helping to dispel myths. In research we carried out last year, we even discovered that 25% of respondents had sought professional help for their own mental health after seeing a soap character with similar issues."
Airs July