Ruby Wax awarded OBE at Priory Hospital Roehampton

Ruby Wax, the American comedian, mental health campaigner and author of recent Sunday Times number 1 bestseller A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, was awarded her OBE yesterday at the Priory Hospital in south-west London.

Miss Wax, who has received treatment at the Priory and performed her one-woman show about clinical depression there, was awarded the OBE for her services to mental health.

Yesterday's ceremony was attended by a host of celebrities and endorsers of Ruby’s work, close family and friends, with Ruby presented her OBE, an honorary British award for foreign nationals, by Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Mike Dudgeon.

“This is the happiest day of my life. I can't believe they were talking about me. I chose the Priory as the place to receive the OBE to celebrate the fact that the stigma around mental health is becoming a thing of the past. There's nothing to be ashamed of.” - Ruby Wax

In 2013, Ruby obtained a Masters degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from the University of Oxford. She became a patron for the British Neuroscience Association and has become a flag-bearer for mental health issues, speaking at Downing Street to raise money for neuroscience research. Among other charity work, Ruby became an ambassador for Mind and SANE, has held open sessions for sufferers and set up dedicated social networking communities for mental health.

Ruby Wax receiving her OBE from Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Mike Dudgeon

She has become a prolific author and speaker on mental health issues with appearances at TED Global 2012 and various UK National Health Trusts. In June last year, she was appointed Visiting Professor in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Surrey.

In 2013 Ruby published Sane New World: Taming the Mind, followed by A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled last month, both of which are Sunday Times number 1 bestsellers. Later this year she will be touring her new one-woman comedy show based on her new book around 23 venues across the UK, following on from the sell-out success of her Sane New World show throughout 2014 and 2015.

The renowned Priory Hospital in Roehampton is one of 327 facilities run by the Priory Group, which treats around 30,000 patients a year for a range of conditions including depression, stress, drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, eating disorders, self-harming and PTSD. It has established a reputation as a world-leader in its field.

For more information, please contact Jess Barratt - jessb@fmcm.co.uk

For more information on The Priory Hospital Roehampton, please visit: http://www.priorygroup.com/location-results/item/the-priory-hospital-roehampton---london