Think peace: Is the war over, and was
there one anyway?

I recently had an unusually encouraging experience reading an article in the December copy of The Lancet Psychiatry.

I use the word ‘encouraging’ in that I have for many years often witnessed  the public misconception that Psychiatrists and Psychologists occupy mutually exclusive worlds, and are in some way defensive of their own ways of working, and dismissive or critical when it comes to a different understanding of how best to pursue or deliver their core purpose.

It may be that through training, influence or plain ignorance the minority of these – term used advisedly – professionals have never considered what or who they are ‘for’?

My personal experience, however, has been that the vast majority of Psychiatrists and Psychologists are respectful of each others’ training and areas of expertise, and are always open to the idea of a blended approach with the ultimate aim of maximum improvement in the areas that matter most to their patient, with the minimum of intrusive or unhelpful side effects. That can be said of both Psychological or Pharmacological interventions.

Consequently the recent public statement referred to in the stated article, declared by the Chief Executive of the British Psychological Society, Sarb Bajwa, Niall Boyce, Editor of The Lancet Psychiatry, and Wendy Burn, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, is timely in the zeitgeist of collaborative working; and refreshing when there is an ongoing perspective of gloom and doom when it comes to design and delivery of what service users, carers, clients, consumers, patients, ( I really like ‘people’) say they need and want.

As an Expert by Experience, I welcome the shared aspiration that the main professional supporters of my mental health and wellbeing agree on common principles, and might aspire to spend more of their energy sharing and caring,  rather than dividing and conquering through professional rivalry in competition for professional kudos and public funding.

To torture and misquote Steven Covey, I can only suggest that this approach, if followed through, is a win/win/win, and the most humanistic and pragmatic way forward. Maybe what might be called common sense.

Simon Mudie
ACP-UK Expert by Experience