Entry 5 - The Issues

Eastenders touches the most broad range of issues ranging from alcoholism and bereavement all the way to cancer and mental health illnesses. As well as this, social dillemma's such as extra-marital affairs and also betrayal within friendships/relationships. A massive amount of charities are also linked to support anyone who phones their helpline after the show to help them with any issue's they have been affected by. Some of the major charities involved are;

This charity deal with mental illnesses which are brought up within the episodes. The most memorable is Stacey's breakdown where she was diagnosed with bi-polar from a genetic disorder from her mother, Jean. After a dramatic sequence of events starting from the confrontation with Bradley, where she steals the keys to make out that her and Max have a flat together in front of Tanya. These events cause her to get thrown out from Tanya, her stall closed down, Max throwing her out of his flat and Charlie getting frustrated and throwing her out of his house. The symptoms of bi-polar cause the sufferer to act in extremes and therefore causing distress to others. Lacey Turner (Stacey) performs so well that this issue has been a massive turn-a-bout for the series. In the following clip, it is noticeable to see the illness for itself and how the viewers at home may have been affected, especially those who have bi-polar, with which this organisation comes in to help support those viewers.

One of the biggest issues within soap opera's are usually deaths or terminal illnesses. These issue's are very deep and distressing for some viewers so the programme usually ends with the special theme and the number for the charity supporting these events are given. those who ring are given support and their call supports what the director and writers may put in their episodes later on to either increase the tension or decrease the amount of complaints.