Mail Online

Lumley: Mental health? Just get a grip!

Daily Mail Reporter

DAME Joanna Lumley has risked stoking outrage after suggesting people are ‘claiming the mental illness bandwagon’ and that they should ‘just get a grip’.

The actress, 75, known for her role as chain-smoking, straight-talking Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous, said there is a difference between those who experience emotions such as grief and those who are ‘properly clinically depressed’.

Dame Joanna also praised the British ‘stiff upper lip’ in the face of personal challenges. During an interview about her campaigning for animal welfare, journalist and GB News presenter Isabel Oakeshott asked about her support of mental health charities.

The actress said: ‘I have to say – this is a horrible thing to say – but I think the mental health thing is being overplayed at the moment because anybody who is even remotely sad says they have mental problems. When someone dies and you grieve, that’s human. You’re not mentally ill.

‘It is awful to people who really are mentally ill or are properly clinically depressed for everybody to say that they’ve got to have some sort of special treatment.’

Dame Joanna quoted a poem by 1 th century British-Australian poet Adam Lindsay Gordon, which features the words: ‘Life is mostly froth and bubble / Two things stand like stone / Kindness in another’s trouble / Courage in your own.’

She added: ‘And if you think of that, just get a grip. Do you know what I mean? Of course some of you are going to feel bloody awful.’

The actress and TV presenter was made a dame in the New Year Honours for her services to drama, entertainment and charitable causes.

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2022-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

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