Alastair Campbell

Welcome to episode 115 with Alastair Campbell, who is a journalist, author, broadcaster and mental health campaigner.

He is best known for his role as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy.

Alastair is a long-time campaigner for mental health and has worked with some of the U. K’s biggest charities and organisations.  He has written two personal memoirs about depression and the pursuit of happiness.

In this episode I chat to Alastair about the work he does in the mental health space and where his passion for this work comes from.

We chat about his own experiences with psychosis, depression and addiction and about his brother Donald, who had a lifelong struggle with schizophrenia.

We also chat about cold water swimming, his love of Burnley F.C and how his depression impacts his family.  We even chat a little bit of politics towards the end too.

It was lovely to chat to Alastair about his life and his work and everything in between and I really can’t thank him enough for his time and his openness.

You can follow him on Instagram @alastaircampbell or on Twitter @campbellclaret or his website www.alastaircampbell.org.

His BBC documentary can be found here: ‘Alastair Campbell:Depression and Me’ Full Documentary on Vimeo

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast and you can connect with me via the website here: www.propermentalpodcast.com

If you would like to support Proper Mental by buying me a virtual coffee, please go to www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another way to support is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from!

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!