Living Better

Working from home has meant that I catch the occasional snippet of daytime television. Thankfully not too much as in most cases, the information received isn’t particularly useful. Sometimes though, you hear something worthwhile. Alastair Campbell discussing his new book on depression was certainly one of those cases.

Whilst I am not an expert on Labour politics or the Blair years, I am still familiar with Alastair Campbell, the polarising journalist and former strategist to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Even though the name Alastair Campbell rang a bell, I was not aware of the great work he has been doing on the important subject of mental health. His new book, Living Better: How I Learned to Survive Depression is certainly a significant extension of that great work.

Campbell starts the book with his childhood, giving the reader an honest account of his upbringing and early years. He also introduces his family and some of their struggles with mental health, in particular his older brother’s schizophrenia which clearly had a major impact on him. The book quickly shifts gears to the start of Campbell’s career as journalist, around the time when depression started to feature more heavily.

Campbell talks openly about his successful start in journalism, his relationship with Labour, alcohol and the start of a career in politics working for Blair. He talks openly about the stress that a career in the political limelight has caused to his family and himself, aggravating his depression in some cases.

The book follows Campbell in his pursuit to better understand his own mind and relationship with depression, something that has been a part of his existence for several decades. As a mental health advocate and prominent public figure, Campbell has access to renowned psychiatry experts, and he documents his discussions in a number of chapters. He talks about his own private discussions with psychiatrists, anti-depressants, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and even newer types of treatment like Psylocibin.

This book is full of wisdom and in a sense, rational hope. Campbell has a clear message; depression is an important part of his life, but he has never let it define him. There are many treatments out there, some work better for others but effort is required no matter what. This book shows that regardless of the mental health difficulties that we or those around us may face, we can still lead a full and rewarding life with the right approach. An important message for sure!

You can find a copy of Living Better: How I Learned to Survive Depression here.