VT. Me as an ‘inspirational mom’ diagnosed with schizophrenia
World Mental Health Awareness Week can, for many of us, provoke a range of responses (from bored, irritated to offended as people promote the idea of it being ‘good to talk’ without mentioning the massive investment and culture changed needed in our health and social care systems to ensure this isn’t simply a platitude to […]
Our Family Was Forged In Fire: Living Through Postnatal Psychosis
Today, Thea Mae – my little warrior child – is three years old. I can barely believe how much time has passed since I first held in her my arms. Yet, it also feels like she’s been with us forever. These past three years have been eventful, to say the least. In addition to the […]
Healthista: Living with ‘Schizophrenia’
This World Mental Health Day the folks at Healthista asked me if I’d be interviewed talking about what it’s like to live with ‘schizophrenia’. This was a strange request as one of the things I’m most vocal about is that the language of mental illness is part of what stripped me of my autonomy and […]
BBC Horizon: Why Did I Go Mad?
This week I was one of three contributors with personal experience of things that often get called ‘psychosis’ (hearing voices, seeing visions and paranoia) on the BBC Documentary ‘Why Did I Go Mad?’. The title, suggested by one of Jacqui Dillon’s voices, was deliberately provocative in order to challenge what we mean by madness and – […]
Radio Times: The Voices in My Head
What’s it like to battle with a dozen people talking inside your head? Rachel Waddingham tells her remarkable story. By Moya Sarner, published in Radio Times Rachel Waddingham sits cross-legged on the sofa and, with the enthusiasm of a children’s TV presenter, talks about travelling the world, the Masters degree she’s doing in psychology and […]
They Heard Voices: Screening and discussion
An independent documentary by Jonathan Balazs looking at the Hearing Voices movement & the schizophrenia label On Thursday 27th April from 6.30pm at Kennedy Lecture Theatre (UCL Institute of Child Health), I’ll be joining a panel to discuss a screening of ‘They Heard Voices’ … a documentary I contributed to. This screening is hosted by Mind in Camden, […]
My Baby, Psychosis & Me: A lesson in how not to make a documentary about mental health
Earlier this year, after my own miscarriage, I settled down on the sofa to watch ‘My Baby, Psychosis & Me’ – a BBC documentary on the journey of two women through a Specialist Mother & Baby Unit. Watching it so recently after my own loss was always going to be painful – yet the issue […]
A Dialogue Evening: What is this thing called ‘psychosis’
An evening of dialogue and discussion, exploring diverse perspectives on ‘psychosis’ on Wednesday 3 June at Mind in Camden.
Critical Mental Health Nurses’ Network Launch
This article was written as a review for the Mental Health Nursing Journal for their June edition. Conferences often perplex me. Heavy with anticipation, I pour through the programme hungry for something that will challenge, excite or inspire me. On a good day, I find something truly delicious – stimulating ideas or possibilities that I hadn’t expected. On […]
July – August – New courses in Kent & Leicester
I’m excited to be offering 3 courses in Canterbury (Kent) and Leicester over the next few months. The workshops are open to people with lived experience, family/friends, mental health workers and anyone interested in the topic area. If you know someone who might like to attend, please share this information with them. All courses are […]
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