Do celebrities make depression hip?

I'm hugely encouraged that depression seems to have lost much the stigma that it has had over the years, or has it? There has been a great deal of publicity in recent months arising from high-profile suicides of men who apparently suffered in silence while friends were blissfully unaware just how bad things had become. Suicide is the number one killer of young men, and stress is the number one reason for workplace absence. Losing your job because of stress could make a difficult situation impossible to live with.
Stephen Fry, Ruby Wax and other equally famous celebrities are open about their experience of depression and good on them! Sometimes, it seems that it is utterly hip for a celebrity to have experienced depression. But what if you are an ordinary anonymous bloke with an ordinary job in an ordinary company?
Around 10 years ago I worked for one of our leading technology companies in Cambridge, one of those who could probably count Stephen Fry as a huge fan. For reasons to do with work related stress, which was so badly handled by my line managers, I ended up having a complete breakdown. I can remember hiding in the toilets with my fist rammed in my mouth to silence uncontrollable crying. This was followed by 3 months when simply I could not get out of bed and another 6 months or so  getting myself back to work. What was the approach of this company? To immediately to begin disciplinary proceedings related to my need to be off sick. Once I returned, they could not get me out of the door quick enough!
Despite this experience, I am still hugely proud to have worked for this company and believe that, as an entity, "the company" did not treat me that badly. But an ambitious personnel officer and my line managers definitely made it their mission to get me out, and so they did.
So why does it matter today? Now?
Since this experience, and while still working in the technology sector, I trained as a psychotherapeutic counsellor, graduating in 2010. I am proud that I now work with men and women suffering from depression and can use my experience for the benefit of others.
Often depression in the workplace arises from work-related stress, or the dilemmas of trying to balance work and home life or trying to be a successful career woman and domestic goddess.
On the whole it seems companies today are very supportive, often paying for counselling. However, what is utterly apparent is that too many line managers still see depression in their staff as a sign of weakness or as a lack of commitment. Nothing has really changed.
Likewise, spouses and partners often see depression as personal criticism and become angry. Depression can be very self indulgent, in a sense, because when you are in it it can be tough to see out and to empathise with the effect your depression has on others.
Depression is definitely not hip or trendy but can be downright dangerous if left.
Depression takes many forms, so if you or someone you care for are suffering from depression, first consult your GP but also consider seeing a trained counsellor. You do not need to suffer and talking therapy by a trained counsellor really does works! You can find these through your GP or on http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/. Look for counsellors who are members of professional bodies such as BACP or UKCP as this indicates that they have achieved a professional level of competence and work within an ethical framework.