Megan Fox and Jeremy Clarkson Top List of Mental Health Gaffes

Actress Megan Fox and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson made the two biggest mental health related gaffes of the year, a charity claims.

Rethink Mental Illness has named the five celebrities who made comments deemed offensive or ignorant in relation to mental illness this year

Fox topped the list for her insensitive explanation for removing a tattoo of Marilyn Monroe after learning that the blonde icon had mental health problems.

"It's a negative character, as she suffered from personality disorders and was bipolar. I do not want to attract this kind of negative energy in my life."

"Fox's comments are insensitive and reinforce the myth that having an illness such as bipolar disorder is some kind of personal failing or a sign of weakness," said Rethink CEO Paul Jenkins.

"I very much doubt Fox would have made a statement like this if Monroe had been affected by a physical illness such as cancer."

Clarkson, who has found himself on the front of the papers more than once over the year due to his outspoken and brash nature, was "awarded" second place after declaring people who commit suicide on train tracks as "very selfish" due to the delays they cause.

He added that trains should resume their journey as soon as possible following a suicide and leave the body parts for scavenging animals.

"Criticising people who are in such extreme distress that they end their own life, is a new low even for Clarkson. If he feels so strongly about suicide, perhaps he should channel his anger into campaigning for better mental health services, rather than attacking people who may have struggled for many years with a mental illness."

Third place was given to TV presenter Jameela Jamil, who tweeted that Catherine Zeta-Jones' diagnosis of bipolar disorder was caused by the menopause. Conservative MP Philip Davies committed the fourth biggest gaffe by declaring in the House of Commons that people with mental health problems should be able to work for less than minimum wage in order to secure employment as they "can't be as productive".

The fifth spot was given to famously trenchant cricket commentator Geoffrey Boycott, who joked in March that England cricketer Michael Yardy's depression could have been caused by Boycott's criticism of his bowling.

"Celebrities have a huge influence on our attitude to all kinds of issues - just look at how Princess Diana single-handedly changed the way we see AIDS. Everyone in the public eye has a duty to arm themselves with the facts about mental illness. Their words carry so much power, it's vital they avoid reinforcing myths and stereotypes," Jenkins added.

"We hope this list will remind everyone that a careless comment or ill-advised joke might not seem like a big deal, but can cause huge pain and upset for millions of people affected by mental illness."

Rethink also celebrated five famous faces as "heroes of the year". Catherine Zeta Jones was celebrated for revealing that she is undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder. Actress Rebecca Front was also named as a hero after admitting on Twitter that she experiences panic attacks and encouraged others to follow her lead.

Actress Georgi Taylor, who played Dr Ruth Winter in Casualty, a charactr who was sections after developing mental illness, boxer Frank Bruno and former England rugby star Danny Cipriani, who both spoke about their own mental health issues, were also celebrated.