Don’t Miss: Ruby Wax’s Mad Confessions!

Next Monday 10pm on Channel 4 is a TV show you won’t want to miss: Ruby Wax’s Mad Confessions.

Attitudes will change

Why? Because it’s the dawn of a revolution, a new era for people who suffer from mental illness and for those who support them—and for all of us, because mental illness can potentially affects us all in one way or another.

You’re not throwing up, you don’t have a temperature, you don’t need bed rest (although you may feel like hiding under the duvet), but you still know you need to call in ill to work. And you know you’ll have to lie about it, because if you tell them you’re suffering from depression and today isn’t a very good day for you, the next time you go to work you’ll get funny looks, or you’ll start worrying that they will try to get rid of you. You’ll worry that people will stop including you in drinks after work, or that they will tell your clients, or that they might think you’re not up for the job. And when a promotion is due, they won’t give you the benefit of the doubt and see that you’ve done amazing work, that you’re reliable, trustworthy, and possibly the best employee they’ve ever had. Instead they will remember that time you called in ‘ill’, saying you had depression and the promotion will pass you by because how do they know they can depend on someone who will call in when they feel a bit down?

Nope, it’s not fair. You’re right. But whether you suffer from mental health issues or not, you’re probably affected by them because 1 in 4 people suffer from mental illness and you can work out pretty quickly that if you’re not the one, then you’ll know someone who is—even if you don’t realise it. And it’s sad (but understandable) if you don’t realise it, because they probably need your support.

Even immensely successful people have suffered from crushing mental health issues. Did you know Winston Churchill periodically suffered from terrible depression, calling these episodes the Black Dog?

Famous comedienne Ruby Wax has also suffered from depression and has decided to create a community called The Black Dog Tribe to help support people with mental health issues. As she said recently while speaking at BritMums Live, alcoholics have places to go to talk about their challenges, to support each other and to find recommendations for further support–people with mental health issues need a place to go as well. But because there is such a stigma surrounding it, who is going to turn up at a mental health meeting as people do the AA meetings?

Supporting people with mental illness

An anonymous online community was the perfect answer. The Black Dog Tribe, named after Churchill’s beast offers anonymous community forums, links to support organisations, and information on mental health illnesses, treatments and medications. It is important to note that this community is not just for people suffering from mental health issues themselves, but also for their supporters. Pretty cool, right?

Ruby hasn’t stopped there. Her new TV documentary, Ruby Wax’s Mad Confessions films with three successful business people as they disclose their mental health condition to their colleagues and friends. Ruby also discovers prejudice against people with a mental illness is enshrined in law, when she meets two brave MPs who recently stood up in the House of Commons and told everyone about their own battles with depression. Don’t miss this amazing documentary, Monday July 23rd Channel 4 at 10 pm Ruby Wax’s Mad Confessions.

Together we can change attitudes towards mental illness

Let’s all join together to de-stigmatise mental illness. If everyone—both the sufferers and the rest, understand mental health issues better, there would be a lot fewer mental health issues. People would be supported, treated and guided in how to prevent future episodes. And we would all live in a much happier place. If this de-stigmatisation is to work, it needs supporters on the outside as well as the inside to spread the word.

Do you have a story to share or ideas on how we can de-stigmatise mental illness?