Alistair Campbell, the former Number 10 'spin doctor', is to speak in Oxford about his personal experience of mental health problems.

Mr Campbell, who was Tony Blair's director of communications from 1994 to 2003, suffered a complete nervous breakdown in 1986 while working as a news editor for the former newspaper, Sunday Today.

He described his breakdown as "like a sheet of glass cracking in slow motion into thousands of pieces inside your head."

After his recovery - tied in with giving up alcohol - he continued his media career and became political editor of the Daily Mirror.

Since his breakdown, he has campaigned on mental health issues and will speak at the Taylor Institution, St Giles, Oxford, on Thursday, June 7, in aid of Oxfordshire Mind.

Speaking about his role in campaigning on mental health issues, Mr Campbell said: "One of the reasons I've wanted to be open about (my breakdown) is that I know from my own recovery that it is possible to take strength and hope from the experience of others, who've gone to what feels like hell and back and lived to tell the tale."

Kath Thomson, an Oxfordshire Mind supporter who organised the visit, said: "It's a busy time for Alistair with the imminent launch of his book The Blair Years but the main focus of his talk will be on mental health, both his own experiences and those of others."

Oxfordshire Mind provides services throughout the county to support anyone affected by mental health problems, including 15 community resource centres, a telephone Crisis Line, a relatives' support group and low-cost cognitive behavioural therapy.

For further information, call 01865 511702 or see www.oxfordshire-mind.org.uk. Tickets for the talk, which begins at 5.30pm, costs £5 (£3 concessions).

There are spaces for 130 people only and it is pay at the door, first-come, first served.