Recent press articles

Launch of Report into MPs Mental Health – one in five experience mental illness

BBC 2 Newsnight
Mental Health in Parliament
Interviews with Tim Loughton MP, Lord Owen and Jonathan Naess followed by live discussion with Mark Oaten MP and the author Tim Lott. You can watch the programme again at: link

BBC online
MPs reveal mental health problems
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The Independent
One in five MPs suffers from stress-related mental illness
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Guardian Society
MPs urged to fight mental health stigma Mary O’Hara article and blog from Jonathan Naess
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Reuters
MPs hide mental health problems
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Politics.co.uk
One in five MPs has had mental health problems

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Healthcare Republic
One in five MPs experiences mental health problem
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The Economic Times
One in five MPs in UK suffers from stress-related disease
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Thaindian News
Mental illness effects the MP’s
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Stand to Reason on Saturday Live, BBC Radio 4, 22 March 2008, Fi Glover interviews Jonathan Naess about his experiences, the impact of the current crisis in the financial sector and setting up Stand to Reason. Listen again to the radio programme on the BBC website link

Insurers who make an issue of mental health problems: “I wasn’t treated as an individual” – Steve Walters a member of Stand to Reason tells his story to the Times, on 13 March 2008. link When he tried to buy a life insurance policy when remortgaging his house three years ago. After approaching an insurance company for a quote, he found that he would have to pay a hefty loading because of his past mental health history.

Mental health fears costing millions in productivity – interview with Stand to Reason, 6 March 2008 in the Law Society Gazette following publication of the SCMH report on the business case for taking mental health seriously.link

Stand to Reason in Germany – Jasmin Fischer, the London Correspondent for several German newspapers interviewed Jonathan Naess about Stand to Reason and various articles were featured in a number of newspapers including the Stuttgarter Nachrichten, on 5 March 2008 link, the Bonner Generalanzeiger and the WestDeutsche Zeitung. link

Work out your health problems, Mary Braid interviews Jonathan Naess for the Sunday Times, 2 March 2008 in advance of the publication of Dame Carol Black’s report. Business wants GPs to sign ‘well notes’ rather than sick notes, but for some people getting back to a normal life may be a cure in itself. link

Is Depression an “evolutionary adaption”?, 27 February 2008. Jonathan Naess reviews a new book by Dr Paul Keedwell for the Guardian, read the article online and blog link

“Bipolar disorder: The highest highs, the lowest lows – Robert Westhead”, as told to Dan Roberts in the Independent on 19 February 2008. link
It’s become an occupational hazard for celebrities. But what’s it really like to live with bipolar disorder? Robert Westhead, trustee of Stand to Reason, describes how the disease turned his life into a roller-coaster ride.

Jonathan Naess is interviewed by Sathnam Sanghera, as part of major Times 4-page article on Depression, 5 February 2008 link. Sathnam’s feature was given prominent pofile in a banner headline on the top of the front cover of the printed edition of the Times. Read the main article by Sathnam Sanghera here, link, and another related article in the same piece, “Where depression is still taboo” – Mental illness is still a big stigma in the Square Mile, says this leading City psychiatrist Dr Neil Brener from Rood Lane Medical Centre. “link”: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article3305639.ece

The PM who outed himself – “It is hard to imagine a British politician “coming out” as a mental health service-user. But ten years ago the Norwegian Prime Minister of the time did just that – and kept his job – when he was diagnosed with depression.” writes Sunil Peck for Disability Now, March 2008. link

Response to Jeremy Paxman’s blog in Aftenposten, 24 January 2008. link

Jeremy Paxman writes in the Newsnight blog, 22 January 2008. “I know we’re supposed not to be partisan, or to pass judgement on those we interview. But I have to say that of all the many politicians it has been my (occasionally painful) duty to interview over the years, Mr Bondevik comes pretty near the top.” [continues..]link

Stand to Reason on front page of Aftenposten, Norway’s leading broadsheet – Mr Bondevik’s visit to the House of Commons, report by Hilde Harbo, 22 January 2008. link

Feature article on Stand to Reason in Aftenposten, 23 December 2007. link

Claims of playing to ‘affluent classes’ miss the point, Mary O’Hara, The Guardian – Wednesday 21 November 2007… Our print and online package included features, case studies, an online chat with an employment lawyer, advice, useful weblinks, and a blog. It prompted a big response from readers – mostly welcoming our coverage and praising the work that Stand to Reason and others are doing to challenge prejudice. (read more) link

Fit for purpose:”Not broken, not tarnished, not a sub-species”, Society Guardian cover story by Mary O’Hara, The Guardian – Wednesday 14 November 2007. Despite mental health problems, Jonathan Naess maintained a successful career, and insists others can do so too. Now he just has to persuade employers throughout the UK (read more) link

What rights do people with mental illness have in the workplace? Read employment lawyer Liz Buchan’s answers to your questions link

Blog from Guardian website responding to the coverage of Stand to Reason link

“Campaigner’s call stands to reason”, says Sunil Peck, Disability Now – September 2007
Jonathan Naess has taken time out of his high-powered job in the City to tackle the challenge of making mental illness sociably acceptable… (read more) link

Mental health’s voice of reason, David Brindle, The Guardian – Wednesday 20 June 2007
Jonathan Naess doesn’t look like your typical mental health service user. But that is precisely the point. With his sharp suits and designer specs, the corporate finance lawyer reckons he is more typical than people think – and he has come out of the closet to prove it. (read more) link