Blog Post

Prof. Jamie Hacker Hughes - &me anti stigma campaign     

  • by Louise Freeman
  • 03 Jul, 2017

&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 Jamie's inspiring story:

Prof. Jamie Hacker Hughes, consultant clinical psychologist

Professor Jamie Hacker Hughes is a consultant clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and supervisor currently working in independent practice in central London and leading a religious order as the newly elected Minister Provincial of the Anglican Franciscan Third Order.

Five years after qualifying as a clinical psychologist, Jamie was diagnosed with Type 2 bipolar affective disorder after 20 years experience of anxiety and depression. He has been on Lithium prophylaxis ever since.

After his diagnosis, Jamie gained a consultant post with the Ministry of Defence, becoming head of healthcare psychology and travelling to Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, gained three fellowships and four professorships, established a research institute and has just finished a term of office as President of the British Psychological Society .

He has published and lectured widely and edited two books, the first of which was Battle against Stigma.

Jamie says that it is really important that people at the top of the profession speak openly about the fact that they are human too!

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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