Please see comment below by Marjorie Wallace, Chief Executive of SANE, on the reports that Brad Pitt has suffered from depression:

“Brad Pitt has shown courage and strength not only in facing and fighting the depression he suffered, but in talking openly about it now. His is a message which will give encouragement and hope to so many others, who may be less in the public eye but who nevertheless find each day, as he did, a difficult struggle.

“People are not always aware that although women may talk more openly about depression, it is men at the mid- point of their lives who are at greatest risk of being overwhelmed by their darker feelings and often do not seek help. That is why we have launched our Black Dog campaign, the Black Dog being a metaphor to which people can more easily relate their feelings and communicate.

“It is interesting that Brad Pitt should link his depression to his use of cannabis, as a growing body of research shows that in some people its regular and heavy use can induce and worsen mental ill-health.”