A-Z of mental health
Information and advice on a huge range of mental health topics
Book review - The Happy Depressive
Posted Thursday 19 January 2012
Ilona reviews The Happy Depressive: In Pursuit of Personal and Political Happiness, a new ebook examining the nature of happiness from a personal and political perspective, by Mind ambassador Alastair Campbell.
The same year that I was born, Alastair Campbell had a breakdown. We could well have been in hospital at the exact same time; me facing life for the first time, and him facing up to what his life had become. We both had a lot to learn.
'The Happy Depressive' is a title that encapsulates everything that Alastair has come to realise about himself. Not only to realise, but to accept and perhaps on occasion even appreciate.
The juxtaposition explains how depression can feel and what purpose it can serve. It illustrates perfectly the intense extremes of emotion; the person who is at the top of the world but dying inside.
It also suggests a more encouraging perspective - that having depression doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t ever be happy.
Through exploring what happiness is, where it comes from, what it stands for and how it can be created and maintained both personally and politically, Alastair reveals a side of himself that many readers have probably never seen before or didn’t know even existed.
His theories seem dark, perhaps even defeatist, but above all they are real and understandable given the sequence of events that led to those conclusions.
A quick and gripping read, part essay, part memoir, flowing smoothly between carefully considered political ‘what ifs’ and meandering through examples of how other countries and religions’ belief systems influence and affect the lives of their people.
I do not wish to discount any of the political aspects of The Happy Depressive. Nor do I intend to divert attention from the admirable suggestions and lists of considerations which he urges David Cameron to take note of in his mission to improve 'wellbeing' across our country.
But it is the personal anecdotes, conversations with his closest family, friends and colleagues and reflections upon his own actions that make this really worth the read.
When Alastair gets down to the nitty gritty, something stands out more starkly than the confessions, the raw emotions and the brave stripping down of his own depression.
He writes, “I hope that by the time I die I will have played a part in ending the stigma and taboo surrounding mental illness.” With regards to that, I can safely say he can rest happy.
The Happy Depressive is available to buy as an ebook through Amazon.
Follow Ilona on Twitter.
2 Comments
-
Alastair Cambell was talking about his book and what makes for a happy society on the Sunday morning discussion show.
I think he was saying something along the lines that a country should concentrate on keeping people out of poverty rather than the rich being allowed to get richer, in order to maximise happiness, because once you have a reasonable standard of living, more money does not factor much on the happiness scale, wheareas being helped out of poverty does.
I feel that people who are suffering at the cruel hands of the benefit system are being denied that opportunity to maintain or rise to the status of 'happy depressive'. It is difficult enough battling with enduring mental illness, but to be persecuted and denied the financial support we need to keep us out of poverty and potential homelessness, is very sad indeed.
Could Alastair Cambell please do anything he can to highlight the plight of those of us living in constant fear at the hands of supposed welfare reform.
-
He was part of the previous government which started the 'reform' process so there's no chance he will highlight the plight of service users in receipt of benefits.
No current political party is against any of the cuts.
No famous service users, or those who identify themselves as having had a mental health issue [with or without being formally diagnosed] do that - ever. Benefits and housing issues do not affect them and even when they are given the relevant information they still refuse to speak on these issues. That refusal is not directly communicated, but they do not respond to requests to do so.
This person has achieved more than anyone or any organisation, she did this whilst sick and with no resources, she deserves a Nobel Prize:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/disability-spartacus-welfare-cuts-campaign-viral
http://benefitscroungingscum.blogspot.com/2012/01/so-how-am-i-by-sue-marsh.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/19/what-next-sparticus-welfare-campaign
Every charity should get behind this woman with resources and offers of help
Commenting is now closed.