I was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder at 18, having previously experienced maternal mental health issues as a child. After qualifying as a mental health nurse in 2002, I worked in inpatient and community settings, coordinated clinical incidents, and supported families and carers.

I had a significant and lengthy period of mental ill health that started in 2017. After relocating to Scotland in 2020, I began my recovery and, by 2023, returned to full-time work as a mental health nursing lecturer at the University of Cumbria.

My own journey has involved living with autism, navigating mental health crises, and working through the process of recovery. I have direct experience with psychosis and have faced challenges related to suicide, self-harm, trauma, homelessness, inpatient and crisis care. These experiences have shaped my understanding of neurodiversity and mental health, allowing me to approach these topics with both compassion and insight.

When I needed help as a patient, I often faced stigma and discrimination. These experiences push me to challenge old ways of providing care and to support recovery by looking at the whole person, not just their illness. I use what I have learned from my own journey to help others speak up for themselves and support each other. In my work, I focus on caring for people’s bodies, minds, and social lives when they are in crisis. I take medication, but I also think it is important to talk about different ways of understanding mental health, such as seeing neurodiversity as a strength.