James Middleton has urged his fans to ‘check in on friends and family’ as he opened up about his mental health in an Instagram post.
The Duchess of Cambridge‘s brother, 33, shared a snap as he snuggled up with black cocker spaniel Ella yesterday, and wrote about his struggles with mental health and how his dogs have helped him.
The entrepreneur has five dogs – Golden Retriever Mabel and four black Spaniels called Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna – who he has often credited with helping him through his struggles.
Captioning the selfie, which he shared online on World Mental Health Day yesterday, James wrote: ‘My own journey with mental health is no secret. A few years ago I was in a very dark and lonely place, I was existing without purpose or direction, the constant hearth thudding anxiety stripped away any joy, excitement or anticipation.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s brother James Middleton, 33, has urged his fans to ‘check in on friends and family’ as he opened up about his mental health in an Instagram post
In the personal Instagram post, James said he was ‘stripped of any joy or excitement’ as he battled mental health struggles in a ‘very dark and lonely place’
‘It was during this time that I realised how much my dog’s, In particularly Ella, helped me during a really difficult battle with clinical depression. ‘
He continued: ‘She saved my life, which was why we are signed up with Pets as Therapy UK as I recognise the huge positive impact animals can have in our lives.
‘Mental health affects so many, perhaps even more so this year having been kept isolated.
‘It’s so important to keep the conversation alive and continue to make progress around the stigma of mental health.’
The entrepreneur, who has five dogs – Golden Retriever Mabel and four black Spaniels called Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna, has often credited his pets with helping him through his struggles
James added: ‘So, while I reflect back on my own journey here is a little reminder to check in on your friends and family.
‘You never know who may be struggling their own battles, even if it’s hidden behind a smile. Just remember it’s OK to not be OK.’
Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983 which ‘enhances health and wellbeing in the community through the visits of trusted volunteers with their behaviourally assessed animals,’ according to its website.
After being assessed, James and his beloved dog Ella are volunteers as well as his fiancée Alizée Thevenet and his pet Golden Retriever Mabel.
It comes weeks after James shared a clip from an interview online in which he said he ‘owes his dog Ella his life’ and called his pets ‘a consistent’
In August, James said he ‘owed his dogs his life’ as he appeared on BBC‘s Sunday Live.
In a clip shared on his Instagram page, James explained: ‘For me, during troubled times and good times, they’re my consistent….I would go so far as to say that I owe Ella my life, and she doesn’t know that.’
Sharing the interview online, James wrote: ‘Dogs don’t just change lives…they save them.
He introduced five of his pups to the presenter before adding: ‘They’re a very, very loyal companion.’
He explained how one of his dogs had been central in giving him confidence in seeking help, saying: ‘I got this diagnosis and Ella came to all of my therapy sessions, which I was reluctant to go from the start. But with her by my side, I really became confident in understanding that I had a mental illness.’
In May, James revealed how his dogs were his ‘medicine’ amid his mental health battle as he opens up about how his pets have helped him with his therapy.
James during a reading at his sister The Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding to Prince William in 2011
‘From my own experiences with suffering with mental health and depression and anxiety, it was over the last three or so years that I’ve really discovered how much animals were actually helping me. I didn’t really immediately realise.
‘Over time Ella came to all my therapy sessions and various other events and she was that person that actually I could talk to but without being judged. She was a very good listener, she distracted me from various things.
‘And that’s when I thought, actually there’s something here and discovered Pets As Therapy and straight away managed to get an assessment and Ella was signed up not that long after.
He added: ‘And ever since then… I truly believe animals are medicine and they really are incredible for our own wellbeing.’
The entrepreneur, who has been frank about his struggles with mental health in an effort to raise awareness around the topic, has nine dogs (pictured)
When speaking about the times he had suicidal thoughts, James previously said to The Telegraph that he ‘needed a way out’ but couldn’t bear to leave his family or dogs.
James has also opened up about his depression in an interview with The Mail when he said his depression was like ‘a cancer of the mind’.
He said that he suffered in silence as his mental health deteriorated and described feeling like he was a ‘complete failure’ as his depression spiralled.
James immersed himself in recovery and underwent nearly a year of cognitive behavioral therapy where his family attended some of the sessions.