Ashley Judd 'sought therapy for Helen role'

Ashley Judd has revealed that she sought the help of therapists before accepting a role in her film Helen.

The actress, who portrays a suicidal teacher in the movie, returned to Shades of Hope Treatment Centre in Texas where she received treatment for depression in 2006 as she felt the project may rehash her own mental health issues.

"There was the possibility that I could help carry the message of recovery. I can't keep what I have unless I give it away and today, by the grace of God, I have really good recovery from depression," she told BlogTalkRadio.com.

"To walk that precarious line of playing the disease and yet not be in the disease was pretty fabulous. I sent the screenplay to two special clinicians I happen to have the privilege of being in relationship with and I asked their advice: 'Did they think I could pull off the disease without being in the disease?'"

She continued: "Their answer was so empowering and electrifying. Unbeknownst to each other they both said, 'How dare you not [do it]'. They had a lot of confidence in my emotional sobriety and my emotional stability and ability to practice good self-care and to self-soothe and reach out and surround myself with really healthy recovering people."

Helen comes to DVD on August 10.