The video I created for ‘Mental Health Awareness Day’ for the World Health Organisation in Oct of 2012 went viral just before Christmas last year, thanks to some lovely soul uploading it to http://www.upworthy.com
Here’s the video if you haven’t seen it:
I Had a Black Dog
It’s now tipping towards 3 million views which I’ve found amazing, overwhelming and incredibly humbling. I’ve had the most wonderful emails from people all over the world, I tried to answer most but if by chance I didn’t please know they were greatly appreciated.
I’m going to create a new video for WHO again this year based on Living With a Black Dog, which was aimed at both sufferers of depression and their partners or carers. That should be up by the 10th of October.
WHO asked if I could explain why I use the metaphor of a Black Dog as a few disgruntled viewers ‘disliked’ the fact that I’d singled out Black Dogs. I’ve also had people ask ‘What have you against labradors?’
The truth is I love dogs be they black, tan or spotty. I have one myself, her name is Cookie, she’s not black, but like her name she is very sweet.
I can’t claim the metaphor of the Black Dog, it has been around since ancient times. Infact UNSW Press published a book titled Tracking the Black Dog, which follows the history and origin of the analogy if you’re interested.
I personally latched onto the metaphor, because I believe our state of mind is not unlike that of a sometimes unruly dog. It requires dedicated understanding, discipline, training, patience and of course compassion and love. I also like the metaphor because it’s something outside of ourselves, it’s separate, it’s not necessarily representative our ‘true selves’. And if you are unlucky enough to experience depression and you don’t nip it in the bud quickly – like a real dog it can be incredibly faithful and literally ‘dog’ you for a good chunk of your life.
Why did I chose a labrador-esk looking dog? I wanted something that looked slow, cumbersome, heavy but patient. In most of the pictures he’s looking as if to say ‘Well come on, what are you going to do about it?!’
I asked a well known author (who shall remain nameless) to write a foreword for I Had a Black Dog. He agreed but he suggested that I had it all wrong. He thought the dog should be more like the Hounds of the Baskervilles; white eyed, large sharp teeth and frothing at the mouth. I suggested he had it all wrong and politely withdrew my request. The last thing I wanted to do was to frighten the hell out of people.
If you have a Black Dog in your life, don’t suffer in silence. The only shame in not seeking help is the shame of missing out on life. I don’t think I’d appreciate life as I do now, if it hadn’t been for the dark mutt; therefore he can’t be all bad. If you want some more information on depression please go to the fantastic place where I consult:
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
Best wishes and yip, yap, ruff!!!
