A Reply to Bill Oddie

10/11/2013

Bill Oddie this weekend writes in the Telegraph that celebrities shouldn’t talk about their depression and that we use it as a career move. In the second half of my last show “Out of Her Mind” I invited the audience speak out and once a week I invited the public in free of charge and brought volunteers from Sane, Lewis Wolpert, Peter Fonagy head of the Anna Freud Centre, Mark Williams founder of mindfulness and many others. I simply organized the event to give people a chance to find individual help and get their questions answered. I also toured mental institutions for 2 years not thinking the show was going to go to theatres in the U.K., Australia, Cape Town, Europe and the U.S. I created Black Dog Tribe for people and care-givers to meet online because there is so much shame around this disease. I just graduated from Oxford University having studied neuroscience and mindfulness to learn more about how our minds work and why everyone in an urban environment is heading toward burn out.

My book “Sane New World” is not about depression but rather how the brain works in everyone, and why many people (not 1 in 4 but 4 in 4) can’t deal with the 21st Century. Obviously Bill did not read the book and yet claims it’s about depression. I don’t work in T.V and haven’t for many years. I am now touring my show to bring awareness to small audiences. I wonder what he’s doing besides criticizing someone who is trying to help. Unfortunately, we live in a society that listens to celebrities I don’t feel great about that but it is the reason Comic Relief makes millions each year. I think we should thank Stephen Fry for being the first to speak out, it’s a very brave thing to do and he didn’t have to to improve his career.

This response has been quoted on the telegraph website

26 Comments

Bronze

10/11/2013 11:51:10 am

First of all I think you're a Babe. Coming to the point I admire your persistance on this subject. Ironically (love the name) FunBoyThree already pointed out the smell of the swill with their song "The Loonatics have taken over the Asylum. Perpetuum Mobileae, girl.

greetz from Crete
Bronze

Marilyn link

10/11/2013 12:03:33 pm

Ruby. Since when did the bearded, self obsessesed, emotionally stunted and dysfunctional oddity that is Bill ever carry any credence or influence? Forget his stupidity. You rock.

Debbie Schow

10/11/2013 12:06:11 pm

Keep doing what you do, and telling the truth. While yes, there are some celebs who will trade in their firstborn for a bit of press you clearly are not one of them. Thank you for creating awareness and a forum where people can get information and help.

Eleanor Ford

10/11/2013 12:07:48 pm

Well said Ruby, keep doing what you're doing, it's all amazing and so helpful to others.

Jenster

10/11/2013 12:22:55 pm

That's ignorance and "stigma" for you. He wouldn't condemn you if you talked about diabetes, asthma etc.

umybaby Usman Abrahams

10/11/2013 12:55:00 pm

Good story and well done. I think you should just enjoy yourself and aim to meet your soul mate. Mental illness is real just like HIV. Did you read the story I wrote today and on Twitter. Tell me how you feel. I am your friend. I love u. I had a crazy dream about you many years ago I still don't know what it meant. Last night I had a dream about Madonna xxx

Judy

10/11/2013 01:03:14 pm

Great response Ruby..

Rick Morley

10/11/2013 01:09:54 pm

The man is a prick and as someone living with bipolar I applaud and thank you and Stephen Fry. Much love

Mark

10/11/2013 01:11:32 pm

My wife suffers from dissociation and its attendant depressive cycles. You have helped her to feel less alone and isolated. I take it this Bill Oddie must be a self important non-entity desperate for exposure?
Mark x

Joanna

10/11/2013 01:17:50 pm

Well done Ruby, we need people like you and Stephen.

Nicky

10/11/2013 01:20:28 pm

Hi ruby I want to thank you for all your doing to raise awareness and support for mental health. Your truly an inspiration. I have BPD and OCD . Clearly bill needs to stick to the birds .

Anthony

10/11/2013 01:22:26 pm

First of all I think the work you do is wonderful - the world has waited a very long time for people in the public eye to be honest about mental health issues. We need "celebrities" to tell their stories in order to deal with the major taboos which seem to surround the subject. Too many people - famous or not - suffer in silence, either because they don't understand what's happening to them or because they're afraid of the terrible stigma that surrounds these conditions.

And I don't really think of you or Stephen Fry as a "celebrities". You're both skilled writers and commentators and all-round brainy people. Neither you nor he needed to take this subject on as a career move. That you chose so to do is testament to your courage. It can't have been easy.

I'm looking forward to reading your book.

Miranda B link

10/11/2013 01:29:11 pm

I commented on the article (twice) - I am appalled by his comments and can't understand why anyone would claim that people like you and Stephen want to make mental illness fashionable. Your work has been a triumph Ruby and nobody has worked harder at educating and helping others about this. So angry and lost for words. Your response says it all.

Anne

10/11/2013 01:31:04 pm

Keep up the good work Ruby! There's an old saying..."What someone says about you, says more about THEM, than it does about you. Conversely, what YOU say about someone, says more about YOU than it does about them".

Ps: When is the next time you will be working with Prof Mark Williams...he's on the list with Prof John Teasdale, and Prof John Kabat-Zinn as would-like-to-meet-and-learn-from.

Keep up the good work!
Anne

Sally link

10/11/2013 01:41:06 pm

I have just commenced my final year of a BSc degree in mental health nursing. I think Bill Oddie's comments in the Telegraph are a personal view, which he is entitled to but which I do not agree with. I think the past two years of training in this area of nursing has taught me just how little I understood the complexities of psychiatry. I believe that we need as much discussion and input on this subject matter, as individuals still experience huge amounts of stigma when faced with mental health illness. Part of my training consists of completing placements of 8-12 weeks in a variety of psychiatric areas; I have worked with a crisis community team, in A&E with a psychiatric liaison team and on acute inpatient wards for adults, older adults, and children and young people, the latter was the most difficult placement. I think the more freely available information is on mental health illness the better. If we are to move forward in gaining the same level of funding in this hugely underfunded area of public health, then keeping quiet for reasons of making a topic too fashionable is ridiculous. Celebrities have such a big influence in the worldwide arena; it is more positive than negative to talk about mental health.
I admire Ruby’s honest, inspiring and dedicated work in mental health and I look forward to seeing more of this in the future (I thought the talk in October at RSA was fantastic, I was able to live stream this in one of my lectures to the class at University!).

Tom

10/11/2013 03:09:03 pm

good publicity from the oddie, i've ordered your book on the back of it! x

Kate

10/11/2013 04:50:48 pm

Excellent reply to Mr. Oddie. Given Bill's own struggles it is sad that his contribution has become an attack on people who have put so much effort into helping people with mental problems and spreading that understanding to the broader public. As for Celebrities helping to create alternatives and decrease the attacks and stigma attached to this illness. I don't believe their motivation is a career move. Anyone who has or has had depression can tell a phony pretty well although the desperation that can come with the condition may make them more vulnerable. Mr Oddie, despite his success and talents has chosen to withdraw his support in light of his belief that some people speaking up are not genuine. That simply cannot be said about Ruby Wax or Mr. Fry. Mr. Oddie, you know the pain, the isolation, the desperation, the guilt, the rejection, the jokes, the rejection by friends and family that comes with this territory. Yet, you would deny people with this condition your help because you don't like what some stars are doing. Shame on you and a heartfelt thank you to the "celebrities" who have the courage to bring some hope and validation from someone who should understand. You know I'm sure the knowing there are others out there who care enough to care is one of the most meaningful and encouraging gestures that can be made to sufferers. Ms Wax has even gone well beyond these efforts and she must be congratulated and thanked not vilified. From a life long depressive who had a very successful career but who am farthest from a celebrity. Please issue an apology to your fellow depression sufferers, survivors, and particularly Ms. Wax and Mr. Fry.

Scott

10/11/2013 05:23:07 pm

I can see the point he thinks he's making, but your documentary, for example, was ALL about "normal" people in every day situations. You have been a genuine help to me and my therapist even shows the program to clients after I told her about it. I know you're making a difference and so do you, so who cares what Bill says. Funnily enough, him acknowledging his bipolar has probably helped people to know they're not alone too.

Andrew H

10/11/2013 06:06:17 pm

“I’m not knocking it,” adds Oddie, really!?! Bill Oddie should listen to what he's saying.
Thanks to you Ruby I have found Mindfulness which has charged my thinking, and I thank you for that.

Susie

10/11/2013 07:57:13 pm

So glad I read this - reminded me to take my meds! Depression has been such a taboo subject forever - it's time to get out there, hold our hands up and say depression is real, it does exist! I endured years of "torture"because I never felt "sad" just angry all the time....after the proper medication I am a completely different person!

Annette

10/11/2013 09:33:06 pm

Thanks, and you and Miranda are my favourite chefs.

Hugh McManners link

11/11/2013 07:32:15 pm

Hi Ruby,
Well done. We're looking at the neuroscience of PTSD and mTBI (at Oxford University). Do get in touch if you'd like,
Very best,
Hugh McManners

hideousfurball

11/11/2013 07:48:59 pm

Bill Oddie is wrong! Stephen Fry did not change my opinion of him due to his admission of his mental health but by hosting a well put together tv quiz show. He did however make the condition "open" in as that the myths and falsehoods were exposed. Ruby has taken that step to the next level.
Both should have there place in mental health history remembered for the de-shrouding of mental health conditions and the possible futures and careers that sufferers can have after being diagnosed.
Openness in public eyes = acceptance in private lives.
My future now has a better prospect because of the work and publicity Ruby and Stephen have done.
Thank you.

Gemma

11/11/2013 09:32:33 pm

Yes Bill Oddie, both Ruby and Stephen spoke out about these terrible, stigmatized issues so they coudkd further their already successful careers. Ruby both you Stephen have done wonders for the acceptance of mental illness, it must have been extremely difficult to 'come out'. Off the back of watching your program I came out at work about my anxiety disorder, and got a lot of respect (I think it helps working in a psychological service!) Ignore Mr Oddity, the man has no idea what he's talking about!

Denise

12/11/2013 02:30:24 pm

To quote Bill Oddie. "“I’m not knocking it,” adds Oddie. “I am just saying that I don’t think celebrities are necessarily the people to bring true understanding of the condition.”

This is hardly an attack on anybody. He's merely raising a point.

Kristiina

21/11/2013 12:47:16 pm

Well Done Ruby. It is as you said in your mail to Oddie very important that public figures come out using their mental health to bring it out in the open to the rest of us. Had it not been for you, Stephen and others, we would still be ignoring the conditions of so many who suffer from the mental illnesses. Sooner people start realising and understanding this help to the lives of many could be helped and even saved.Keep up the good work. Although as the previous person said Oddie did not attack it directly, this was very negative and unhelpful comment from him.

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