At the age of 17, Suzy developed the initial symptoms of depression with the condition developing into manic depression/bipolar affective disorder whilst studying at St Andrews University in Scotland.

After graduating, her deteriorating health saw her being hospitalized on 6 occasions with acute episodes of severe depression. Following her recovery, she first became involved in mental health awareness programs in 1999 when she joined the Education Team of the Renfrewshire Association for Mental Health. Giving talks to senior secondary pupils, social workers etc and writing about having mental illness for student psychiatric nurses led to the writing of her autobiography ‘The Naked Bird Watcher’ which was first published in the Spring of 2003.

She is involved with the Scottish Executive’s ‘seeme’ Campaign that addresses stigma and discrimination whilst raising awareness. Having written various articles and features, she researched and initially drafted the '1 in 4' Scottish Association for Mental Health Booklet for young people.

It was following this that both the Scottish Executive’s Mental Health Division and some of the mental health organizations that she had been involved in suggested that she became an adviser on mental health, and so in June 2004 she set up The Cairn to publish, promote, write and advise on mental illness and its issues.

For Suzy, The Cairn (the Scottish term for a mound of stones set as a landmark) symbolizes the recovery from mental illness; the foundation stones being the support mechanisms holding the mental health in place – the support mechanisms being the network that is made up of either family, friends, colleagues or professionals.

She writes on mental illness/mental health and their issues – either in an educational and awareness role, or as a topic for everyday discussion and debate, and in informative formats such as booklets and leaflets, as well as articles for magazines - including the 'This Life' column of Mental Health Today - journals and newspapers both in the UK and the USA. She believes in the importance of good self- management for maintaining good mental health when recovering from a mental illness or a psychiatric disorder.

This is a priceless account of the agony, shock, love and stamina of a mother faced with a child who has been dealt the unkind hand of severe mental illness. Easy to read, clearly sincere and uncontrived it is altogether memorable. Her feelings are described with endearing honesty and simplicity, over the space of several years and through the various stages of her daughter's illness and recovery. Her early feelings of utter uselessness are so real and understandable, the only solace coming from basic mothering activities such as ironing her daughter's pyjamas on the eve of being admitted to a psychiatric unit. One of the many remarkable features of this account is Jean's appreciation of the irreplaceable role of in-patient care, when sanctuary is needed, and the oft repeated affection for specialist staff. She bucks the fashionable trend of demanding a right to be involved in the detail of her daughter's hospital care, recognising the dangers of over involvement and seeing her daughter's relationship with her teams as her own business. Her relationship with the ward cleaner is a great comfort and is a useful reminder of the totality of a service which is discounted by planners and managers. Altogether this is a refreshingly sensible and emotionally riveting account from an intelligent lady who is blessed with the unusual combination of modesty, insight and the energetic desire to do something to ease the plight of those afflicted with mental illness.

Professor AVP Mackay, OBE, MA, BSc (Pharm), PhD, MB, ChB, FRCP (Ed), FRCPsych, Tpsych, Director of Mental Health Services, Lomond and Argyll (retired)

 

Jean Johnston’s words provide comfort and guidance to all other care givers out there.  As a father and care giver myself, I found the comfort of learning of the positive change which can come over time in our loved ones.  Her simple words of wisdom in dealing with mental illness and the many situations we, as care givers and parents,  might find ourselves in, will be an indispensable ally.  Jean writes of the uniqueness of every patient and case, of the complexities of treatment and medications, and of the fundamental keys to recovery:  self awareness of the symptoms,  development of coping strategies and the carer’s sensitivity and communication skills to help even while they may feel they are walking on egg shells.

Doug Huskey,  father and care giver.