Ashton Kutcher says he considered suicide so his twin brother could have his heart

Ashton Kutcher has opened up about wanting to take his own life in order to save his brother's.

The actor has a twin brother called Michael, who has cerebral palsy, which affects his coordination and motor skill functionality.

But things took a turn for the worse when the brothers were in their early teens and doctors said that Michael only had just weeks to live if he didn't get a heart transplant.

"I'm thinking to myself: 'If anyone's a match, I'm a match'," Kutcher recalled in new Paramount+ docuseries The Checkup with Dr. David Agus.

"Now you start running that cycle through your head. You're like, 'This balcony looks far enough to take things'."

The 44-year-old continued: "I think standing on the balcony going, 'I'm a match', that moment is probably the exact moment the shift took place, where I'm like, 'How do I get to be this lucky, and my brother to be born with cerebral palsy, then have a heart transplant?',"

Paramount+

Fortunately, Michael was able to find a donor, and he now works as a keynote speaker.

Meanwhile, Ashton has been through health scares of his own, telling Dr Agus about his battle with vasculitis.

"I woke up one day and was having vision issues [and] could hardly see," he said.

"[It] knocked out my hearing, which threw off my equilibrium, my balance and I couldn't walk. I had vasculitis, that you're very well aware of.

"There's a standard you become accustomed to in your life, like, being able to see clearly. And then suddenly, you can't see."

Here's a list of the leading mental health helplines and services that are just a call away in the UK:

- Samaritans are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and will talk to you about anything that's bothering you. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email [email protected] or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Welsh Language Line on 0300 164 0123 from 7pm to 11pm every day.

- The Mix take calls from under 25s on 0808 808 4994 from seven days a week from 3pm to 12am. You can request support by email using the form on The Mix website or using their crisis text messenger service.

- Papyrus HOPELINEUK is there for under 35s struggling with suicidal feelings, or those who are concerned about a young person who might be struggling. You can call them on 0800 068 4141 every day from 9am to 12am. You can also email [email protected] or text 07860 039 967.

- The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) caters specifically to males on 0800 58 58 58 from 5pm to midnight every day. Alternatively, you can use their webchat service.

- The Nightline website allows students to see if their university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.

- Switchboard is there for people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and can be reached on 0300 330 0630 from 10am to 10pm every day. You can also email here or use their webchat service. Phone operators all identify as LGBT+.

- The Community Advice and Listening Line (C.A.L.L). is available for those who live in Wales and can be contacted on 0800 132 737, which is open 24/7. You can also text 'help' followed by a question to 81066.