Meanwhile

July 16, 2008 in Passing Connection To Work by beakie | 10 comments

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…as the assembled company of Mental Nurse examines the contents of its collective navel button, out in the real world, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health has reported the results of its survey, showing that almost a fifth of MPs have experienced mental health problems.

[They] also found that 86% thought being an MP was stressful…

…One in three of them said colleagues’ attitudes and the possibility of a hostile media reaction prevented openness about mental health issues.

Much the same was the case with gay MPs in previous years and while I don’t imagine it’s a huge amount better than it was, there have been some who have been prepared to be open about their sexual orientation. This has been an enormous help in informing the public debate on equality for gay people.

What’s needed is an MP who is prepared to go on the record about his mental health problems, in the same way as former Norwegian PM Kjell Magne Bondevik did when depression forced him to take a very public sick leave ten years ago. An MP who was prepared to do so would be a brave individual indeed, and one can imagine the reaction of the media to such an admission. But think of the good it could do for people with mental health problems.

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July 16, 2008 at 10:13 am

a and e charge nurse

John Prescotts revelations about his bulaemia coincided with the release of his book.

Alaister Campbell was depressed - we learned about this soon after the release of his book.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the lib-dems was sacked for being alcoholic.
I’m not sure if alcoholism is considered a mental illness, or whether Kennedy ever planned to release a book.

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July 16, 2008 at 10:39 am

pog

A&E CN - whilst not being a huge support of Campbell, he was public about his depression well before publishing the book - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/hea.....hdep14.xml

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July 16, 2008 at 10:49 am

Mr Ian

I’m interested that MPs only seem to suffer 1 in 5 - a statistically significant improvement on the more widespread populus who suffer 1 in 4.

And how can anyone possibly consider a self-reporting survey by MPs as being reliable and valid?

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July 16, 2008 at 11:03 am

beakie

C/N - Prescott was out of office when he “came out” as bulimic. Campbell wasn’t an MP, so perhaps doesn’t count. Kennedy being sacked for alcoholism isn’t the most positive of stories. I guess we need someone like the Norwegian PM, someone who is prepared to be brutally honest, even at the risk of damaging their career. As it was, Bondevik’s honesty did him no harm as he was re-elected.

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July 16, 2008 at 1:19 pm

colouredmind

I want to be an MP

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July 16, 2008 at 1:21 pm

colouredmind

woops I was a little to keen with the enter key.

I ewant to be an MP if the stats are lower. Do you think there is a higher chance of winning the lottery too. A positive mental health story from the commons would be good but can you imagine what the opposing party would do. If I was an MP I wouldnt tell the press for fear of my career and the press making things worse with their scandolous writing.

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July 16, 2008 at 2:27 pm

Mr Ian

Well apparently, disclosing mental health issues are worse than committing fraud or being caught having a portion of auto-erotic asphyxiation - according to the linked article it’s still law that MPs with a mental infirmity must stand down.

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July 16, 2008 at 5:13 pm

Socrates

Have you read about the extraordinary process necessary to section an MP or peer?

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July 16, 2008 at 10:25 pm

siabrae

I thought about becoming an MP at one time - but then I became bipolar and decided that the stigma would be too much. After all, someone with a mental illness is an easy political target for jibes about their judgement being impaired. Look at the various jibes Gordon Brown has been getting about his mental status.

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July 18, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Mr Ian

siabrae: Wen I read your comment, I was half expecting to see..
I thought about becoming an MP at one time - but then I became bipolar and decided that the stigma would be too much. … Imagine going to my support group and having to tell them I was an MP!

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