Normal People star Paul Mescal has told the story behind the heartbreaking scene where his character Connell attends counselling, saying that the filming took a toll on him.

In the new issue of Stylist magazine, the Kildare actor says: "Filming the scene where Connell breaks down was brutal. They called 'cut' and I was still bawling. 

"I wanted desperately for Connell's pain to feel authentic. A massive percentage of people will experience something that Connell and Marianne [played by Daisy Edgar-Jones] are experiencing in regards to their mental health."

Of the research he undertook, Mescal recounts: "Prior to filming I met a counsellor who worked in Trinity College. I asked her: 'Does this feel real?' She said that it's like a documentary in terms of how it was written. 

"There were so many details that Sally [Rooney, Normal People author] got so right in terms of Connell avoiding eye contact or crying and not wiping away his tears. Then it was about going back to the very start of the novel and building the blocks so it makes sense that he ends up there; you can trace his anxiety back to episodes one and two."

If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, please visit: www.rte.ie/helplines.

Normal People concludes on BBC One on Monday at 9:05pm, and on RTÉ One on Tuesday at 10:15pm.

Catch up on episodes on the RTÉ Player.