• MIND is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales which provides advice and support to the 1 in 4 people who experience mental distress in their  life time. They campaign to improve services, to raise awareness, promote understanding and one day reduce the stigma that is normally attached to mental illness.
  

• Depression can sometimes make everyday things such as speaking to friends, eating a meal or just getting out of bed feel impossible to manage.  At its most severe it can make you give up the will to live.  I know this at first hand having suffered severe bouts of depression from my early 20’s triggered by major bereavements in my life.  Debs has not suffered from depression but has suffered it by association.  She has had to listen to me, when I was ill, on our long runs talk all about me and ask the same old questions again and again “Do you think I will get better?” The greatest thing that helped me was to talk about it.  Debs has seen through me that DEPRESSION IS NOT A STATE OF MIND BUT AN ILLNESS. 

One of the greatest most invaluable books ever written on Depression is "I had a Black Dog"by Matthew Johnstone. (Black Dog is a term Winston Churchill used to describe his depression). This brilliant book says with wit, insight and warmth what other books take 300 pages to say. When shown to family and friends it helps to articulate what you or someone you know is going through.  It helped me to finally make sense of what it is to suffer from this terrible illness.   If you are reading this and have a Black Dog in your life, never, ever give up the fight; Black Dog CAN BE BEATEN!  Reach out to those who may be able to help talk to a doctor, family, close friends, those who have experienced it at first hand, individual or group support.  Always remember "IT WILL PASS".  

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING US!

JUE & DEBS XX