Speeches

I remember the first time I gave a public talk; about thirty years ago. I sat on my chair on the stage; pushed my chair back and it fell off the back of the platform! I spoke as fast as I could; rushed out the room and smoked a packet of cigarettes before rejoining the Conference.

​

A few years later, I was on a tour of Scotland with Support in Mind; highlighting experiences of psychosis. There was always a bit where I talked about my son; where my eyes would film over and my voice break but I was somehow, to my surprise, always able to continue.

​

Those speeches are well and truly lost and I am now used to talking about personal things without that terrible fear and the emotion that sometimes accompanies it.  Here is a selection of the hundreds of talks I have given over the years. I tend to use myself to illustrate issues but there should be some variety in each talk. I will add to these as time goes by and I am asked to talk at different venues.

​

(Do feel free to ask me to give a talk at your event if you wish! I like doing it. I like it even more if I feel it will make a difference and, if I get paid; well that tends to be pretty wonderful…!)

​