Ruby Wax: What’s so funny about Mental Illness?
Diseases of the body garner sympathy, says comedian Ruby Wax, not so, those of the brain. Why is that? With dazzling energy and humour, diagnosed a decade ago with clinical depression, urges us to put an end to the stigma of mental illness.
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ABOUT Ruby Wax
“She is a loud, funny woman who spent much of her comedy career battling depression in silence. Now her work blends mental health advocacy and laughs. Winston Churchill called it ‘the Black Dog’, a depression that settled over him and drained the flavour from life.
Ruby Wax knows the Black Dog well; throughout the ’80s and ’90s, during a flourishing career as a brash comedian and interviewer in the UK, it trotted at her heels, even while she was interviewing the Duchess of York and sorting through Imelda Marcos’ shoes.
After taking a time-out to learn how to manage the condition, Ruby produced a stand-up comedy show called “Losing It” that directly addresses her mental health experiences, hilariously but powerfully.
And she’s started up a new social network called the Black Dog Tribe, which offers a community and support to people with depression. Meanwhile, she’s working on her Master’s in cognitive therapy.”
The VIDEO
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