South London and Maudsley staff win at RCPsych Awards
Congratulations to our South London and Maudsley colleagues who received awards at the annual Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Awards on 11 November 2021. The RCPsych Awards celebrate the best and brightest teams and individuals in psychiatry.
Our Anxiety Disorders Residential Unit were awarded Psychiatric Team of the Year: Outstanding Commitment to Sustainability/Green Care for their project “From Plot to Perfect Poo”.
Consultant Psychiatrist Dr David Veale said:
“We are a specialist service for treating severe obsessive compulsive and related disorders in a therapeutic community. Our project “From Plot to Perfect Poo” puts sustainability at its heart. We are set in open green space at Bethlem Hospital where we have created an allotment for residents. They receive support to grow and cook produce and source local ingredients for everyday eating. The food focuses on enhancing gut microbiota and promotes the importance of a healthy gut to mental health. The project empowers residents and promotes a culture of belonging through shared tasks such as gardening, cooking and hospitality.”
Dr Marta Di Forti was awarded Saraswati Devi Jajoo Memorial Academic Researcher of the Year. Dr Marta Di Forti is a Clinical Academic working at King’s College London and at our Trust. She leads the first and only Cannabis Clinic for patients with psychosis in the UK. She was recently awarded a MRC Senior Research Fellowship to expand her research in the role of cannabis use in psychosis and its underlying biology.
Dr Di Forti says:
“Heavy cannabis use is one of the most modifiable risk factors for the onset of psychosis and for the illness course. I hope this award brings more attention and resources towards supporting young people who suffer from psychosis and smoke cannabis; if we can help them to reduce/stop their cannabis use it will give them a chance to improve their clinical and functional outcome"
Professor Carmine M. Pariante was awarded Psychiatric Communicator of the Year. Carmine M Pariante is Professor of Biological Psychiatry at King’s College London, and Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He has published more than 400 scientific papers, and appears regularly in international media outlets to discuss mental health issues. Carmine said: "Through my dissemination activity, I want to bring evidence-based information to the press and the public, and also advocate for the most vulnerable in society."
Well done also to the National & Specialist CAMHS Trauma, Anxiety and Depression (TAD) Clinic who were shortlisted for “Psychiatric Team of the Year: Children and Adolescents”.
