Newspaper Articles

Stephen Fry's stage fright took him to the brink of suicide
By Hugh Davies
 

Eleven years after walking out on a West End play, Stephen Fry explained yesterday that the stage fright he felt had made him contemplate suicide.

Feeling inadequate as an actor, he sat in his sealed-up car, and spent two hours wondering if he should turn on the ignition and kill himself with exhaust fumes.

 

Stephen Fry in 1996

Stephen Fry one year after Cell Mates

 

The writer, comedian and film director said: "It was a suicide attempt. Not a cry for help."

Fry, speaking in a BBC2 documentary detailing his "secret" life as a manic depressive, said he managed to control the urge to kill himself, and instead decided simply to disappear. He fled to Bruges.

It was only afterwards that he learned, from a doctor, that he was bipolar. He said: "For the first time, at the age of 37, I had a diagnosis that explained the massive highs and miserable lows I've lived with all my life."

At the time, Fry tried to make light of his actions, which killed off the play Cell Mates, by Simon Gray.

He called himself a "silly old fool", able to "only offer cowardice, embarrassment and distress as excuses". His walkout after only three days in the part of the KGB agent George Blake left his co-star Rik Mayall upset and Gray furious.

The playwright, who had spent years writing the show and getting it to a theatre, wrote a 126-page "hate letter" in which he laid into Fry's personality and acting.

Fry now insists that he suffered a total breakdown. He said: "I went into my garage, sealed the door with a duvet and got into my car. I sat there for at least two hours, my hands on the ignition key."

Fry decided against gassing himself and instead drove to the south coast and took a ferry to Belgium. He said: "I really believed I would never come back to England.

"But after a week I secretly returned, to this hospital, and to a doctor telling me I'm bipolar. I'd never heard the word before. There's no doubt that I do have extremes of moods that are greater than just about anybody else I know."

 

Stephen Fry aged 17

Stephen Fry aged 17

In the documentary, Fry returns to Uppingham, his old school. He said: "In hindsight my symptoms really surfaced here, but the problem was, to almost everyone, they just looked like bad behaviour. I was very nearly expelled."

Fry also spoke of an earlier suicide attempt at 17. "I took as many tablets as I could, and as many variations as I could. Unfortunately it just made me vomit."

 

Doctors fail to spot manic depression

Jo Revill, health editor
Sunday January 12, 2003
The Observer

 
Thousands of people suffering from manic depression are having to wait at least a year before they are diagnosed with the condition because many doctors do not recognise the symptoms.

A survey of British psychiatrists to be published tomorrow will show that the illness, also known as bipolar disorder, is still shrouded in mystery, even though it is thought to affect one in every 100 people. Once it has been identified, the condition can be treated with medication and most patients go on to lead relatively stable lives, with little need for hospital services.

But there is growing concern that many are slipping through the net, and spiralling into a deepening depression because they are not treated properly.

One of those who knows how terrible it can be is Sally Earl. At 26, she developed a psychosis linked to the condition immediately after the birth of her daughter. She has had four spells in hospital, and made one suicide attempt, but the mood-stabilising drug Lithium has kept her largely stable, although she says it is a constant battle to stay well, and maintain a steady, quiet lifestyle to avoid the symptoms recurring.

'When I was transferred to a mental institution after the birth of my daughter, it was horrible,' said Earl, who is now 44 and has a part-time job as a beauty therapist. 'I was in floods of tears, I felt really desolate and it was as if I hit rock bottom. You cease to differentiate between nightmares and reality.'

She had a further breakdown and developed strange phobias. 'My husband would come home to find that I had thrown lots of things away in the bin. I became convinced that all our net curtains were dirty and had to be washed.

In a survey of 72 consultant psychiatrists, more than half believed that symptoms experienced in the manic phase are the most damaging to the individual's life. Typically, patients in a manic phase become more active and have heightened mood swings, and exaggerated optimism and self-confidence.

In moderation, these appear to be positive traits, explaining why many sufferers hold down important careers. But when the characteristics become exaggerated, it leads to over-tiredness, excessive irritability and aggressive behaviour.

The disease is often linked to creativity, and has affected several famous personalities, including Spike Milligan. Artists Jackson Pollock and Van Gogh were also said to suffer from the illness, as was Winston Churchill, who famously called it 'black dog'.

Bipolar disorder is a complex mental illness that has an impact not only on sufferers, but also their families and carers. It is estimated to affect more than 1 per cent of the population - nearly 600,000 people.

There does not appear to be one single cause, but several different factors. It tends to run in families and researchers are looking at specific genes which may predispose an individual to the condition, but there are also likely to be environmental factors involved.

The survey results will reveal that most psychiatrists believe it takes more than 12 months for a diagnosis and one-third of them feel that over half of cases are initially misdiagnosed, possibly due to a lack of awareness of the symptoms.

If bipolar disorder is misdiagnosed as depression and anti-depressants are presribed, they can actually induce manic episodes.

Amanda Harris, chief executive of the Manic Depression Fellowship, said: 'For too long the service needs of people with bipolar disorder have been poorly understood and treatment efforts chronically underfunded.

'The dearth of research into the causes and treatment is remarkable when you consider the cost to society and individuals. Stigma, prejudice and ignorance continue to persist around this illness.'

 

     

Fight with severe highs and lows

Feb 27 2006
By Jane Picken, The Evening Chronicle

It can ruin your family life and even mean a spell in hospital, but people living with bipolar affective disorder are determined to remain in control. Jane Picken finds out how they cope

Neil Tinning once lived a life which would have been the envy of music lovers.

He toured with The Jam, getting up close and personal with the mod-idols.

But Gosforth-born Neil's life was torn apart by bipolar disorder - a condition it took doctors six years to diagnose, and which saw him hit periods of deep depression or a total high.

During one episode of mania he developed an obsession with Jimi Hendrix and jumped on a plane to visit his hero's grave in Seattle.

And in 1995, after crumbling under the pressures of his job at a CCTV firm, the dad-of-four took one month's supply of antidepressants in a bid to commit suicide.

"I think I've had bipolar for most of my life but because I was always busy I didn't realise until it was too late," said Neil, 44, who lives with his family in Seaton Sluice.

"At 21 I was working with The Jam going all around the country as their official photographer. That's a lot for anyone to so young to do.

"I was never aware of my mental health status until I actually became ill.

"It's not something you're necessarily born with. It can be triggered by something stressful like a divorce or a death."

"Anything can happen when you suffer from mental illness. I've had times when I've thought I was God and others when I've tried to end my life. I lose all responsibility for money and safety and things."

But now Neil, who has children Alex, 20, Richard, 17, and Victoria, 14, with wife Liz, is determined to beat his mental health problems, and is now patron of support and awareness group the Manic Depression Fellowship, having taken over the role from the late comedian Spike Milligan.

And the photographer has produced a series of pictures to illustrate bipolar disorder, which have won awards and featured on a BBC documentary.

Neil said: "There are a lot of different feelings that come with this condition. The pictures try to illustrate those.

Some of Neils work is displayed on the www.bipolarrollercoaster.co.uk website visit it here Twink

"People with mental illnesses often get a lot of unnecessary stick from people who don't understand. The thing people should remember is it can affect everybody, not just the odd person."

 In 2005 alone 1,226 people from Newcastle and North Tyneside were treated as in-patients at Newcastle General Hospital's Hadrian Clinic, ward 21 at North Tyneside Hospital and at St Nicholas' Hospital for bipolar disorder - also known as manic depression. 

Bipolar affective disorder clinical nurse specialist Dipty Reavley said: "Bipolar disorder is characterised by episodes of mania usually followed by periods of depression. Typically the person will not be able to sleep and if they reach hypermania they can become aggressive, angry or irritable.

 "It can be triggered by a stressful event, but there is no common cause and everyone responds to it differently. And there is not one type of person who is prone to bipolar disorder - you can be any age or from any background.

 "If people have bipolar disorder they tend to stay in bed and not think they've got a problem, and then when they go into mania people looking at them would think they're very jolly and happy, but they're really about to hit crisis.

 "We've got a high proportion of people who go through the justice system because they're picked up by the police when their behaviour is out of control."

 Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health Trust has now set up bipolar education groups to help people take control of their illness.

 The groups consist of 14 weekly sessions for up to 16 members with a healthcare professional working alongside an expert patient who has bipolar disorder.

 The groups cover issues such as lifestyle, medication, alcohol and drugs, and they will enable people to learn more about their own illness as well as develop expertise in identifying signs and symptoms that might herald a relapse and promote their own health through their lifestyle choices.

 "Most people who have taken part so far have found this a really useful and informative approach, particularly as it is specific to bipolar disorder," said Dipty, based at the Hadrian Clinic.

 "People say that it helps them to feel more in control. We think there is great potential for extending it."

 Mum-of-one Julie Marshall, from North Shields found the course to be a pillar of strength as she learned to cope with bipolar disorder - a condition she has had for 23 years.

 The 44-year-old was a happy trainee nurse when things started to spiral out of control and her family became increasingly worried for her safety.

 "I was 21 when it all started and I would have these episodes of irrational behaviour and I was on this incredible high. Suddenly I did not want to stop and I was refusing to sleep. I was also having all these hare-brained schemes.

 "I spent £700 on a horse which I had nowhere to keep and I couldn't afford it. It was a moment of mania and I didn't really think about it.

 "Eventually my parents called the doctor because I was doing things like going out in their car and driving erratically."

 In 1982, on her 21st birthday, Julie was admitted to St George's hospital in Morpeth for two months, and just a few months later she was admitted again after a relapse.

 Just one year after her son Simon, now 21, was born, her marriage to her first husband broke down in 1985. But since then Julie has managed to learn to live with the condition and takes medication to stabilise her mood.

 "I still live in fear that it could come back or even that Simon could have it too," said Julie. "But now I know that not getting any sleep can trigger it so I make sure I do.

 "I did the course last year and it was fantastic, especially as I could talk to people who had been what I had been through."

 Hundreds of people on Tyneside have also found solace with the Bipolar Organisation. Chairman Lynn Arkless set the group after her son Darren, now 33, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 18.

 "It's a very complex illness," said district Lynn, 59, from Westerhope.

 "It's horrendous being a mother and seeing your child go through this, but we've been going through it for a long time and that is why we thought other people might need support too."

 The Bipolar Affective Disorder Project at the Hadrian Clinic can be contacted on (0191) 256 2884. 

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A serious mental health problem

Bipolar Affective Disorder is a serious mental health problem involving extreme mood swings, between highs and lows. Both men and women of any age from adolescence onwards and from any social or ethnic background can develop the disorder.

The exact causes of the condition are not known, but around 1% of people develop bipolar disorder in their lifetime. About 12% of people with a brother of sister with the disorder develop the condition.

There are two main classifications for dipolar disorder, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Bipolar disorder I is characterised by at least one manic episode, with or without major depression.

More severe Bipolar Disorder II involves at least one episode of hypermania as well as an episode of major depression.

The disorder can be long-term, or it can be mild with infrequent episodes. The usual pattern is one of increasing intensity, with the average patient having between eight and 10 episodes over a lifetime.

 Symptoms of the depression experienced in bipolar disorder are almost identical to those of major depression, including fatigue, sleep problems, lack of concentration, agitation and pessimism.

 Typically the key to coping with Bipolar Disorder is an early diagnosis by a mental health specialist and an acceptance of the condition.

 There is no cure for the condition but many people find an understanding of their disease and what triggers episodes - as well as treatments, including medicines such as antidepressants and lithium - can help them to live a relatively normal life.

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Prisoner's plea for razor is refused

Apr 7 2005

 

By The Journal

A suicidal prisoner has failed in a High Court bid for the right to be given razors so that he can cut and mutilate himself to relieve the stresses which could ultimately cause him to kill himself.

A judge ruled that the "grotesque" suggestion that Jeffrey Watkins should be provided with the means to self-harm "flies in the face of what we regard as civilised standards".

Watkins is on suicide watch at Rye Hill prison at Onley, near Rugby, Warwicks, where he is serving a life sentence for rape.

The court heard that Watkins had made "very serious" attempts to commit suicide in the past.

His counsel Flo Krause said he suffered from bipolar disorder, or manic depression, had been a persistent self-harmer for many years, and medical experts agreed that cutting himself "lifts his mood" by releasing endorphins into his system, thereby making suicide less likely.

Mr Justice Newman, sitting at the High Court in London, said Watkins asserted that, under the European Convention on Human Rights, "he has the right to mutilate himself with razor blades to the extent of cutting to the muscle, and that the (Home Secretary) is legally bound to facilitate that mutilation by providing him with hygienic razor blades and sterile first-aid equipment".

Rejecting the challenge, the judge said: "It is offensive to the individual, it is offensive to the (prison) staff and to the Prison Service and it flies in the face of what we regard as civilised standards".

Ms Krause argued the Prison Service policy in respect of self-harm and suicide was increasing stress and adding to the danger that Watkins would commit suicide.

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I hardly slept due to mental illness

 

Jan 10 2005

 

By Louise Redvers, The Evening Chronicle

Mental illness affects one in four of us at some point in our lives. Louise Redvers spoke to one woman about her battle with manic depression.

Diane Mortimer doesn't remember a lot about being ill.

She doesn't know why she stayed up most nights writing lists, what drove her to reorganise everything in her house or how she got through to Tony Blair's private secretary when she rang Downing Street.

The motives for writing to MP Alan Beith on nearly a daily basis and collecting more than 1,000 guitar plectrums when she doesn't play the instrument are also lost on the 47-year-old.

"Most of it's a bit hazy and a lot of it is a complete blank," explained Diane, who lives in Felton, near Alnwick.

"I didn't have much insight into what I was doing at the time but I remember thinking I could do anything.

"I'd pick up on something and just get fixated on to it. My thought process was very fast. I'd process everything at top speed into bullet points.

"And I'd always be writing things down, just reams and reams of things, lists and points and I'd stay up all night doing it.

"I hardly slept but I was never tired, I was always hyperactive and doing something.

"I rang Tony Blair after I'd seen something on television about the Kyoto conference.

"I can't remember what I wanted to say to him but it was obviously something I thought I was very important at the time. I thought I was only on the phone for about five minutes, but apparently it was hours. The next day my husband Robert got a call from Special Branch asking who I was. I must have been saying something serious."

Diane has a condition called bipolar affective disorder, more commonly known as manic depression.

She has had two periods of mania and now relies on medication to keep her symptoms suppressed.

Her first episode began in April 2000.

"We'd just got back from a holiday in Kenya and I thought I was reacting to the malaria tablets," she explained.

"But it happened all over again a few years later so we knew it wasn't the tablets."

Diane still doesn't know the trigger for her first spell of manic behaviour but says her second outburst came because she was upset about a niece who was being bullied at school.

"It really upset me that someone could bully my niece," she explained, "I was bullied once in a job and it brought everything back and really got to me."

Fortunately Diane's husband Bob was more alert to his wife's behaviour the second time round and Alan Beith and Tony Blair were spared her letters and phone calls.

Bob, 47, said: " I picked up on the symptoms more quickly that time, the agitation and the not sleeping and I was able to call Diane's consultant and get her seen to.

"But the first time I took a lot longer to get help. I basically coped until I couldn't cope any more because that's what you do.

"I had to call an ambulance in the end because I realised she was very seriously ill and needed help.

"It's hard to explain how Diane was, her behaviour was so extreme. She was very hyper all the time and didn't sleep or sit still.

"She'd just go round tidying everything around the house and she became obsessed with causes and opinions and believed she was right about everything and everyone else had to believe her point of view.

"Looking back, Diane was very low before we went away to Kenya but at the time I didn't think about it.

"It's not been easy because at times I had to do everything for Diane because she wasn't capable herself.

"I even had to take away her credit cards because she had no control and wanted to buy everything she saw. I've learnt now that's a common symptom of the illness."

Although the couple can laugh now about Diane's behaviour, it's clear that her illness has weighed heavily on their lives.

Bob said: "Some family members have found it difficult to deal with Diane having mental illness but we have been very open about it.

"I think a lot of the stigma around mental health issues can be self-inflicted.

"If you just clam up and don't talk about it, people believe the mad axeman stories. But by talking to people about what's happened, we've had a lot of support locally.

"We've also found there are a number of other people in similar situations, which has made things easier.

"But we know there's no magic wand to wave. We have to take each day at a time and take what comes."

Being ill has cost Diane her job as an NHS clerical assistant and her daily medication is taking its toll.

She said: "The Temazepam gives me a hangover feeling when I wake up so I'm quite slow to get going in the mornings.

"Also, I've put on a bit of weight because my tablets make me very hungry. I'm seeing a dietician at the moment to try to sort that out. It's a bit frustrating."

"But," she added, with a new enthusiasm in her voice: "I'm volunteering at the local RSPCA shop and I go to outreach services in Alnwick twice a week, which are really good.

"We do art classes, go on trips out, play cards and pool and do quizzes. We had an exhibition of our artwork at Alnwick Playhouse. I made a sculpture of a bird. I'm not very good at art, but I enjoyed it.

"I've met a lot of new people and made some good friends. One of the hardest things has being building up my self-esteem but I'm getting there, slowly, it's just something I'll have to get over at my own pace."

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Manic mood problems

The official name for manic depression is bipolar affective disorder.

It is a mood disorder whereby your moods can swing from extremes, from very, very high (mania) to very, very low (depression).

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not fully understood, but the condition seems to run in families.

Both men and women can get it and it affects people from all sorts of backgrounds.

Around one person in 100 is diagnosed as having bipolar disorder.

Often the depressive phase comes first, with the mania experience coming some years later.

Symptoms of the mania phase include speaking very quickly, changing the subject frequently, generally behaving in a strange, unusual and uninhibited way, appearing unable to sit still or relax, making decisions without thinking things through and taking reckless action or spending money recklessly.

If you are having a manic episode, you often can't tell that anything is wrong. It can seem like other people are being critical, negative or unhelpful.

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Fight off depression

There are a number of things you can do to look after your mental health.

1. Take control. Some people find it helps if they have some control over what happens to them. This helps to guard against the kind of hopelessness which is associated with depression.

2. Make a fresh start. This has been shown to help people recover from long-lasting depression. Similarly, learning to do small or manageable goals can give you a sense of achievement and make you feel better.

3. Keep in touch with your friends. If you are already depressed you may find it very difficult to be sociable and this can make you feel more depressed.

4. Keep active. Outdoor activity seems to be particularly important in staving off depression in older men.

5. Review your eating habits. Research has suggested that people who are depressed may have low levels of certain essential fatty acids found in fish oils.

6. Investigate self-help techniques. Some people have reported benefits from meditation, listening to music, and acupuncture.

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My Life fell apart  

Feb 27 2006

 

By The Evening Chronicle

In just under eight years George Cox's life fell apart. He lost his family, his business - a lucrative seaside hotel - and his money, all thanks to a condition had did not know he had.

The 47-year-old is now slowly but surely rebuilding his life, and coming to terms with his bipolar disorder.

"Something was wrong when I went for a week in London back in 1997 and managed to blow £10,000 in three days," explained George, from Cullercoats. "That's what bipolar disorder is like, you have these episodes of elated mania where you do highly destructive things.

"I'd had one breakdown before that but it wasn't as bad. I ended up getting into trouble in London and being arrested. The police realised something was wrong and I was sectioned. I spend the next six weeks in North Tyneside General.

"It was like being on a total high and I was enjoying every moment of life, but it soon ended and then I was on a real low."

About eight years ago George had a relapse and after reaching burn-out was admitted to hospital again. This time George realised he'd gone too far.

"I had nothing left and because I was going out partying all the time I lost the business and all my money," he said. "My family helped me through but it was a difficult time."

George's bipolar disorder is now under control, thanks to stabilising drugs and antidepressants, and the dad-of-one has thrown himself into his new job as a service user rep. George found the support he needed with the Bipolar Disorder Organisation.

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