Beverley Dick
Glasgow
I am a former critical care nurse, with 30 years of nursing experience, working in the USA, Spain, and finally the South of England. I had to leave my nursing career due to physical ill health, which had a detrimental effect on my mental well being.
I was first referred to CMHS in 2010/2011. I was wrongly diagnosed, and there was a great delay in recognising that I was suffering from Bipolar Affective Disorder, which I actually diagnosed myself. On my first admission to a psychiatric hospital in February 2014, despite being labelled as "very unwell" I was still able to diagnose what psychologists and psychiatrists and crisis CPNs were unable to.
During this admission I was forced to have ECT against my consent and that of my sister, who was my Named Person. During my 7 week stay in the hospital I was subjected to many breaches of my liberty, both human rights and civil liberty, with severe neglect, psychological abuse, and mistreatment by nursing and auxiliary nurses.
Several months after my discharge, when I felt well enough to discuss and inform my CMH psychiatrist, she completely refused to take my word, saying they were very serious allegations and that I had been "very unwell" at the time. My reply was to acknowledge I had been unwell, however I had a very good and clear recollection of the whole seven weeks, as an inpatient, from patients, to staff, to when I was in a single room, to when I was in a 6 bed bay, to witnessing other patients' violations, to everything that happened in there which was criminal and against our human rights.
At one point I decided to go on a hunger strike. It was my only way to protest against my inhumane treatment. I never told the psychiatrist about this while I was in hospital because I knew I would not be believed, and would be forced to take anti-psychotic medication which they prescribed for me. But I always refused to take the medication as I and my family were aware of my worsening mental health for 3 months prior to admission. The medication for anxiety and depression was being increased, meanwhile in direct correlation my mental health was getting worse.
My action thereafter was to tell everyone my story, and become an activist for mental health and human rights.
In 2018 at a human rights event I was made aware of Psychiatric Rights Scotland and immediately joined in order to achieve the group's goals in changing Scottish legislation to be in line with what the European Convention on Human Rights has made statutory law since 2014.
I have refused to take any psychiatric medication due to suffering severe side effects from previous medications. I now manage my health both physical and mental on equal parity and completely holistic. I have been well since a second admission in 2015, which lasted 4 weeks. During this time I suffered from psychosis, as a result of once again trying to starve myself to death. I refused any drugs again, and since discharge from the 2nd admission I continue on my journey of holistic health, and have been well and stable and living a much fulfilled and happier life.
I have become an activist to change all the terrible wrongs that sadly exist and happen to many patients with mental disorders. My motto is : "Justice for all, and the truth will prevail." Watch this space.
Beverley in the 90s when working as coronary care staff nurse in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary
