18 Jul 2023
Mental health care and wellbeing charity founder, Stacey Turner finds herself in Westminster for a very special event.
I recently found myself at the House of Lords following an invitation to attend an evening with the Lord Speaker, Sir Charles Walker KBE MP and Alastair Campbell on Mental Health Matters: Turning Talk into Action.
It was originally planned to be held in the River Room at the Palace, but was subsequently changed to the Sovereign’s Robing Room, Palace of Westminster.
I was offered a comfort break by a member of Lord Speaker’s staff and taken to my seat at the front. I was seated next to the current Chair of Samaritans, Keith Leslie and Lady Fiona Walker.
To the right of Keith, sat Professor Baroness Hollins, who is the founder and chair of a fantastic charity called Beyond Words.
I also met the ever-inspiring Til Wykes, who is Professor Dame, Vice Dean Psychology & System Sciences, Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist – National Specialty Lead for Mental Health who coincidentally honoured Alastair Campbell with a fellowship of Kings College London for his campaigning work on mental health.
I look forward to meeting with Professor Dame Til Wykes and colleagues after the summer to discover all about their research at Kings College London and the Maudsley Hospital.
The event was followed by a short reception and I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to the Lord Speaker succinctly about It’s OK To Say.
As someone who has always considered herself as non-political, I still recognise that laws and policies affect our everyday lives and as part of my campaigning in mental health, I hope to inspire further campaigning to help create change from within so that people get the mental health care they are so rightly entitled to.
I look forward to having lunch with the Lord Speaker after the summer recess to chat more about It’s OK To Say, how we developed from a campaign to a charity, what we do, how we are growing and what we aspire to do and how I intend to keep campaigning to see changes in the interests of our community.
Mental health care needs to change, and as the great Dr Chisholm, the first director general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) famously stated: “Without mental health there can be no true physical health.”
If you or someone you know would like to find out how It’s OK To Say can help, please email.
Do you have a story to share to inspire others? Do you want to offer your skills to help It’s OK To Say?
Email: support@itsoktosay.org.uk Website: wwww.itsoktosay.org.uk (currently being updated)
