I wasn't prepared when the black dog turned up the first time, I didn't even know he existed and he certainly wasn't welcome. But, as he forced his way into my home and flopped onto my sofa, it seemed clear that he wasn't going to be leaving any time soon. I have often wondered what my life would have been like if I had been told about the black dog, if I had been told about mental illness. Would I have coped better? Would it have made a difference? Something happened this morning that made me decide that, whatever happens, my children are going to know about the black dog before he comes knocking...
