EastEnders has packed an emotional punch in Phil Mitchell’s ongoing depression storyline.
While Walford was dealing with the explosion at The Vic, Phil, who had stolen Cindy’s gun, was determined to hurt himself. In the garage, Linda Carter, Nigel Bates and Phil’s younger brother Grant were trying to talk him down.
“There’s so many other options,” Linda told Phil, pleading with him to put the gun down.
This comes after Phil has been struggling with his mental health and says he’s been hearing voices.
In the new, dramatic scenes, Nigel kindly suggested that Phil should get some help, as Grant revealed Linda had read the note Phil had left for Sharon.
“You don’t need to feel embarrassed or ashamed about anything you wrote in that letter,” Linda reassured him, adding that Sharon needed to hear those things from him.
“You owe her. It’s not fair to leave all that in a letter,” Linda continued.
Linda then reminded a defeated Phil that he loved Albie and that he had many reasons to want to get better.
“You love that little boy. And from where I’m standing, that’s a reason to live,” Linda said.
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In a tragic turn of events, Phil pointed the gun to his head and fired it multiple times. Luckily, it wasn’t loaded.
Grant rushed to take the weapon from Phil before storming out in a fit of rage.
Later on, Nigel comforted Grant, urging him to be there for his brother.
“I know it’s hard but he needs you,” Nigel told him.
Meanwhile, Phil had a heart-to-heart with Linda, opening up on his feelings of despair and lack of purpose.
Speaking with Nigel after the conversation, Linda insisted Phil needed professional help and that they should call 999.
Phil agreed to speak to a mental health team for Nigel’s sake, as he reminded Phil he couldn’t face his early on-set dementia diagnosis on his own.
“I really need you to help me through this,” Nigel told Phil.
The doctor suggested Phil should spend some time at the hospital as an informal patient. He was initially on the fence but ultimately agreed, with Linda promising she would visit him as soon as possible.
