'Struggles make you stronger': Jessica Marais opens up about bipolar

Love Child star Jessica Marais has opened up about her battle with bipolar disorder, insisting she refuses to be defined by her mental health.

Jessica has always been up front about her condition, but says she doesn't want it to be the thing people most associate her with.

"Your struggles are what makes you stronger and you shouldn’t be defined by them," she told Nova's Confidential radio show.

"I have a personal way of coping with struggles, the same way that anybody else does, and I don’t think that anyone should be defined by that," Jessica added.

"Also, there are periods of your life that you can go through something and you can move past them and other people have lifelong things."

Jessica, who is currently starring in The Wrong Girl, first discussed her mental health condition two years ago, reportedly going against advice from TV industry colleagues who warned her about opening up about her condition to fans.

At the time she said she wanted to help remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues and allow for people to have an open conversation about different conditions, including bipolar.

Looking back at her choice to talk about her condition, Jessica also told the radio show she hopes people will be able to see beyond it in the future.

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"I suppose when I made that statement, I didn’t want it to be a defining element of my personality because there are so many other things and that is just one little tiny facet. I don’t set myself up to be any sort of expert that can impart advice but what I will say is that I’ve learnt to be more open with the people close to me when I’ve had struggles of my own."

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800

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