Ruby Wax admitted to mental institution after depression 'snuck up' on her

22 April 2023 , 14:51

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Ruby talked about her depression (Image: Getty Images)

Ruby Wax has opened up about being admitted to a mental institution in her new book.

The comedian has released a new book I'm Not As Well As I Thought I Was where she talks about her mental health.

The 70-year-old particularly describes a time in 2022 when she was admitted to a mental insitution in London.

She explained that being in the institution wasn't on her "agenda" and she didn't expect to share details either.

Ruby described the safety features of the room she was staying in.

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She said: "I notice they designed [the room] so there's nothing you could hang yourself from. There are no taps on the sink, so water squirts from the wall. No shower head or doorknobs.

Ruby is releasing a new book in which she documents her mental health battle (PA)

"But I'm not thinking about killing myself. I just wish my life would stop. It hurts so much. In case you hadn't realised by now, I'm writing this from a mental institution."

The star talks about her family in her new book, saying that she come "from a long line of ancestors with various flavours of mental illness".

She said there is schizophrenia, bipolar and psychopathy on her father's side of the family, going on to say "it seems a no-brainer" that she would struggle with her mental health.

However, Ruby was surprised that after "12 years of no depression" that she ended up being admitted.

Ruby said: "But this time the Big Dip snuck up on me and when it did, it struck hard. Depression is the black hole of diseases, where you sit helpless as your mind hammers you with accusations.

"Your thoughts attack like little demons biting chunks out of your brain."

Ruby documented that she underwent a treatment called Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS).

(@rubywax/Instagram)

Ruby discussed the treatment she was given (Getty Images)

This treatment delivers magnetic pulses that stimulate nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression.

It's thought to activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity during depression.

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Ruby said that she hates "digging up all the horror shows" from her past but she has been told "the only way to deal with depression is to face the music".

Charlotte Everett