Candace Cameron Bure breaks down crying over ‘shame’ of depression: ‘Help me’

Candace Cameron Bure is opening up about her struggle with depression, which she says can feel “so shameful and so lonely.”

The 47-year-old “Fuller House” alum spoke about how her battle with mental health impacts her life with author Jennie Allen.

“[Depression] is such a lonely place and it’s very difficult to speak out about it, even to your most trusted people,” Bure said through tears on her podcast Tuesday. “It’s hard to admit it, at least for me, I feel like because I should be strong enough to overcome that and then it just feels weak. It just feels so weak. And the perception of that.”

Bure continued, “There are a lot of people who feel that it’s weak and will verbalize that, so then it’s just immediate shame that you’re like, ‘Oh, well, if I struggle with this, then I’m a weak person.’ Yet so many times when I’m like, ‘I don’t want to feel this way.’

“I can try with all of my might to get out of this and I can’t pull myself out of the pit. I can’t pull myself out by myself,” she continued. “But it’s hard to extend the arm and go, ‘Help me.’ ”

The devout Christian shared a clip of her podcast conversation on Instagram, writing to her followers, “If you struggle with sadness or depression, please know you are not alone! PSALM 34:17-18 says, ‘When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.’ “

She previously opened up about her mental health in 2021.

“I juggle, as we all do, a lot of plates. I not only juggle my family but also work in a lot of different capacities. It can get really difficult,” she explained during a chat with the Salvation Army Midland Division. “The travel can get strenuous as well. I need to keep my mental health clear.”

The former child star and her husband, Valeri Bure, are parents of sons Lev and Maksim and daughter Natasha.

Bure has faced criticism in recent years for her anti-LGBTQ+ views after her move from the Hallmark Channel to the Great American Family Network.

The mother of three praised the company for promoting “faith programming and good family entertainment,” calling them “Christians that love the Lord,” after speaking out about the importance of keeping “traditional marriage at the core” of her TV network.

She released a lengthy statement to Page Six in November 2022, slamming people who “hate” her “values.”

“All of you who know me, know beyond question that I have great love and affection for all people. It absolutely breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I intentionally would want to offend and hurt anyone,” Bure said at the time.

“It saddens me that the media is often seeking to divide us, even around a subject as comforting and merry as Christmas movies,” she continued. “But, given the toxic climate in our culture right now, I shouldn’t be surprised.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.