SANE supporter Jas Bhabra has been visiting some of SANE's Black Dog statues and wanted to share his and his mother's story.

"I understand a little about mental illness as my Mum has suffered all her life with depression. I'm 46 and I've followed her journey and learnt much from it. At the worst times she hurt herself, other times she was paranoid and delusional for long spells, sometimes just too low to get out of bed."

"However, my mum for the last 20 years is doing great. Yes she has SMALL set backs but we work through these. For the last 15 years she has come to me every week for tea and spends time with me, my wife and my two daughters. We talk and I listen and reassure her that I'll always help her when she needs me."

"So when I read about the 'Black Dogs' and SANE's campaign I had to visit them for my mum and brother who too has been touched by depression. When I sat on one I had mixed feelings, tears in my eyes remembering all the hard and sad times. But happiness too that there are people out there that care, will listen and help to make sure there is a light at the end of the tunnel."

"When it comes to the 'Black Dog' many people are still judgemental and 'black & white' about it. We know that it is complex and only love, kindness, support and time works."

"Visiting the dogs has been quite cathartic for me and emotional. I'm really glad there is literally a lifeline for people like my mum and people that understand and care. I wish as a teenager me and my brothers could talk to someone, we just dealt with it and bottled it up for 30 years. We have long term partners but they don't really understand what it was like."

"My mum is living proof of this, she is a survivor. SANE is a fantastic charity, and I hope the BLACK DOG campaign will save and give back many peoples lifes."