Dr Rebecca Lawrence - &me anti stigma campaign
- by Rebecca Lawrence
- •
- 13 Mar, 2018
- •
&me
is our joint campaign, with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' Mind Matters
Initiative, to encourage senior, currently well healthcare professionals including doctors, vets, dentists and pharmacists to informally self identify as having experienced a mental health condition in order to reduce the stigma of mental health in the healthcare professions.
Find out more about our campaign and how you might get involved here
Read on to learn about our volunteer Rebecca's inspiring story:
Find out more about our campaign and how you might get involved here
Read on to learn about our volunteer Rebecca's inspiring story:
Dr Rebecca Lawrence is a consultant psychiatrist and clinical director.
Rebecca says 'I have had a long career in psychiatry which has been intertwined with my own mental health problems. The latter started relatively abruptly with a puerperal psychosis prior to my psychiatric training, and I have had many episodes over the years, involving hospitalisations and electroconvulsive therapy as well as drug therapies. Talking therapies have been of limited benefit when unwell – and have seemed less relevant when I’m well.
I have a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder, which I find hard to accept. My psychiatrist tells me that doctors are the most self-stigmatising patients that he comes across, and that he knows I’m becoming unwell when I start to talk more of having a personality disorder. However, I try to follow his advice, and am fortunate that I have had long periods when I have been well.
I have a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder, which I find hard to accept. My psychiatrist tells me that doctors are the most self-stigmatising patients that he comes across, and that he knows I’m becoming unwell when I start to talk more of having a personality disorder. However, I try to follow his advice, and am fortunate that I have had long periods when I have been well.
I have been very lucky with family, friend and colleagues – and those involved in my treatment – and am still surprised by my life and how it has turned out. I have been a consultant psychiatrist in addictions for over ten years now, and have been clinical director since last year. I also work in the chronic pain service, having recently completed a masters in pain management, and do as much teaching as I can. I have a wonderful family, and play music in what spare time I have left.
What advice would I give to others? I am realistic that my illness is unlikely to go away. I used to try to fight it – which was helpful at times – but it does affect my life and will continue to do so. It hasn’t stopped me doing what I want to do, but I do have to adapt at times. It does affect me, like any chronic illness would.
And that, ultimately, is what I would say - adapt if you need to because of the illness, but never because of the stigma of the illness, whether self-stigma or otherwise.'
And that, ultimately, is what I would say - adapt if you need to because of the illness, but never because of the stigma of the illness, whether self-stigma or otherwise.'
Rebecca blogs about her experiences as doctor and patient here and tweets as @Rebecca99LT
Updated October 2020: Read Rebecca's recent Guardian Opinion article on her experience here
Seeking help?
Our wonderful &Me ambassadors share their inspiring stories to provide general encouragement and to help breakdown stigma, but if you need support, please seek it from your healthcare provider or a specialist service, rather than contacting our ambassadors in person. See our 'Support for Doctors' page for listings of various services and organisations specialising in supporting medics with mental ill health.
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