Honour for her mental health work

Ruby Wax is to be awarded an OBE for her services to mental health.

The comedian, who has suffered clinical depression, is touring a show on the topic called Sane New World and has written a book of the same name.

She is also patron for the British Neuroscience Association and supports various mental health charities.In 2013, she studied for a Masters degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from Oxford University.

Mark Williams, professor of clinical psychology at Oxford, said: ‘Ruby's campaigning reveals her rare skill of being able to speak of the deepest and most painful things with openness, wisdom and humour, bringing acute observations and fresh perspectives to a field that badly needs them.’

As an American, her OBE will be an honorary award for foreign nationals – and supporters have come forward to praise her for the honour.

Jemima Khan said: ‘I am so happy that Ruby Wax is being recognised for her incredible work to de-stigmatise and explain mental illness which is thought to affect a quarter of the world.’

Author Kathy Lette added: ‘Ruby’s explorations of her mental journey are pithy, profound, poignant and perspicacious but also hilariously funny. She’s now using her brilliant communication skills to help all of us live a saner life in this crazy, chaotic world. Ruby is a national treasure. She so deserves this OBE, not just for the joy she's brought British audiences for decades, but also for helping us confront our dark sides too.’

Sane New World is Wax’s second show about mental illness, following Losing It, about her experience with depression. She has spoken on mental health at Downing Street and the TED talks, among many other places.

Published: 27 Apr 2015