Probably the most depressing newspaper headline I ever saw was in the Sun. It read, “Bonkers Bruno locked up”, referring to the serious mental health issues facing the former boxer Frank Bruno. He had been sectioned under the mental health act which just went to show how ill Bruno was, but the Sun thought it worthy of trivialising. The man wasn’t seriously ill, he was “bonkers.”
I have used the word “bonkers” in very light-hearted terms. “Those cats are bonkers!”, “that man is truly bonkers”, referring perhaps to a mildly eccentric act, but never in the sense of someone being mentally ill; never.
This week, Bruno was admitted to hospital following a severe bout of depression and what’s more he was admitted on a voluntary basis. Given the insult he had from Britain’s most popular newspaper, I would suggest that took enormous courage. It could have been in the back of his mind, maybe at the front of it, that he would once again be ridiculed by the newspapers, each employing a sub-editor to come up with the best “joke” headline. I would like to think that the Sun learned a lesson following their crass headline last time, but I would not bank on it. These are ruthless, heartless people for whom no depth can ever be deep enough and the feelings of others are of no significance.
Bruno is a major figure in the Daily Mirror’s “Time To Change” campaign against the stigma of mental illness, again a brave thing for someone of his status to be involved in. His actions in being open and upfront help all of us who have issues with mental illness. And even at a time when he was ill, he still put his head above the parapet in order to help others.
I’m in the middle of a minor dip at the moment, which I have seen coming for over a week, and if I was a celebrity like Bruno, I would be terrified at the next press headline about me being “bonkers”. Frank is in the middle of a major dip, which is so hard to explain to anyone who has never had one. The respect I have for his honesty and bravery being so upfront about his illness is total.
He’s not “bonkers” at all. He’s ill, very ill, and I am glad he has sought treatment. The Sun is an enemy of the people in so many areas (other newspaper enemies are available), especially the most vulnerable in society who are, ironically, its main readers.
I’ve never been as ill as Frank Bruno, at least I don’t think I have, but my heart is with him as he fights on. And as he fights on, he helps to reduce the stigma. I thank him for that.
