A respected psychologist and physician will be offering live advice to online users of Ruby Wax’s mental health site Black Dog Tribe this week, in support of Depression Awareness Week
Dr Tim Anstiss, a medical doctor trained in cognitive behavioural
therapy, interpersonal therapy, motivational interviewing and positive
psychology will be working with Black Dog Tribe
for an hour each day to offer users online advice and encouragement. He
will be joined by a number of celebrity guests during the week, all of
whom have suffered from depression and are determined to tackle the
stigma associated with it. Tim himself had an episode of depression when
at medical school, and knows just how painful and isolating it can be.
He is a member of the tribe.
The sessions start on the Black Dog Tribe site and can be followed using the Twitter hashtag #bdt or by following @followbdt
“The aim is to help anyone who believes they may be suffering from
depression or excessive stress to open up and talk to people that have
already experienced it,” said Ruby Wax, a co-founder of the Black Dog
Tribe site.
“The word ‘depression’ is well worn and consequently trivialised.
There is still a stigma attached to it. It means that people with real
problems feel less inclined to talk. So the aim of Black Dog Tribe is
give these people a platform to talk, to share problems and experiences
and hopefully find a route out.
“Depression Awareness Week is great for focussing people’s attention and
for us it kick-starts a plan to bash the stigma of depression and boost
our support platform with some excellent advice and forums for the
people who need it.”
Dr Tim Anstiss added: “We won’t be diagnosing complaints but will be listening, sharing
experiences and exploring options which other people have found helpful.
It’s not just about depression either. It’s about helping people
experiencing stress and other issues that may lead to depression over
time. There should not be any stigma associated with depression. It is
part of the human condition.
" We have to help people realise that. Nor
is it a sign of weakness. Unfortunately, depression is becoming more
common. There is something about modern lifestyles that are making many
people depressed, and it can be helpful to talk with like-minded people
who have or are experiencing similar things. During the week we will be
exploring positive solutions and simple steps that can help people
become ‘undepressed’ and stay that way.”
• During the course of Depression Awareness Week, Black Dog Tribe is
also inviting users to submit experiences and insights into depression
via blogs, forum posts, poems, essays, videos and tweets – just about
any form of insight that users are prepared to share with the community
at BDT. Each day, the BDT team will pick an insight and that person will
get a special gift and an invitation to tea with Ruby at the Ritz.
About Black Dog Tribe
Founded in 2011 by Ruby Wax and Nina Storms, Black Dog Tribe is a social
place to meet people suffering from stress and mental illnesses such as
depression. It’s also a place for care-givers to chat and share
experiences. It consists of forums and blogs and the overarching aim is
to help stop the stigma associated with depression and other mental
illnesses.
www.blackdogtribe.com
About Dr Tim Anstiss M.B, M.Ed, D.Occ.Med, M.F.S.E.M
Tim is a medical doctor with a master’s degree in sports medicine and a
diploma in occupational medicine. He is a member of the British
Psychological Society and has a particular interest in mental health and
its improvement.
After working in psychiatry Tim ran an NHS occupational health
department and developed some new health services for workers. He then
trained in several psychological improvement approaches including
behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, interpersonal therapy and
motivational interviewing and began training NHS staff in motivational
interviewing and health coaching techniques.
A Member of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine and the British
Psychological Society, Tim once pole vaulted for Great Britain and was a
contender on ITV’s Gladiators. He was also one of the ‘Slough 50’ in
the BBC documentary: Making Slough Happy.
Tim's personal site
The Academy for Health Coaching site
The Applied Wellbeing site
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