Psychiatric Bulletin (2006) 30: 236. doi: 10.1192/pb.30.6.236
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2006) 30: 236
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Winston McCartney
A layman, dedicated to the welfare of the mentally ill and a good friend of the College
Fred Browne
Winston McCartney died suddenly on 15 June 2005 at the age of 47. He had
only worked in mental health services since 1996, yet within that relatively
short period he made an enormous impact. He became Co-Chair of the Special
Committee for Patients and Carers, he sat on Council and he spoke regularly
with government ministers and other politicians. With his energy, passion and
commitment and his human frailty he touched and enriched the lives of a great
many people. He will be particularly remembered for advocating for service
users, lobbying for improved services and improving communication and
cooperation between service users and service providers.
Winston started his working life as a fitter in Shorts’ aircraft
factory in Belfast. He worked at Queen’s University Belfast in aerospace
research, then trained as a film editor. While at Queens in the 1980s he was a
founder of The Groucho Club which celebrates the work of Groucho Marx and is
still active today. He became a dubbing editor, then post-production manager
for the BBC, then a lecturer in media studies. In January 1996, after a period
of ill health he became a mental health advocate for the Northern Ireland
Association of Mental Health. He carved out a niche in this role, taking a
keen interest in human rights and mental health law and he represented a
number of patients at mental health review tribunals. In 1998 he became the
Northern Ireland representative on the College’s Patients’ and
Carers’ Liaison Group. In 1999 he was elected Co-Chair of the Group
which became a Special Committee of Council in 2001. He was committed to
strengthening this Special Committee, rejecting tokenism and striving for
proper, meaningful representation of users and carers in the work of the
College. He loved to visit the College offices in London, partly as a break
from the pressures of his other work, and he was respected and admired by all
the College staff who worked with
him.
Winston advocated for service users both individually and collectively. He
was a powerful communicator and he wrote and spoke with authority, warmth and
compassion. In the Northern Ireland Assembly he helped establish an all-party
interest group in mental health. He had an enviable capacity to network and he
brought many national and international experts to Northern Ireland. He had a
particular ability to establish relationships with a wide range of people and
he worked closely with politicians and with psychiatrists, including the past
President of the College, Dr Mike Shooter. He contributed to the work of the
Mental Health and Learning Disability Review in Northern Ireland and was to
have spoken at the College Annual General Meeting in 2005. Winston contributed
several chapters to the forthcoming Gaskell book Psychiatry in the 21st
Century: Principles, Possibilities and Challenges and he worked on the
forthcoming revision of the College’s council report on patient
advocacy.
Winston blazed a trail. He was a character, widely known and respected for
his knowledge, energy and passion. Even those who may have disagreed with his
views had to recognise his good intentions and admire his commitment.
Unfortunately the pace of his life took a toll on his health and he was ill
for much of the 2 years up to his death. He is greatly missed by his wife
Jean, his three children and by his many friends and colleagues. He leaves a
unique legacy, for he demonstrated the power of a cooperative approach
involving service users, carers and service providers. His untimely death
challenges us all to build upon the vision he shared.
eLetters:
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- Thank you
- Adam D McCartney
- PB Online, 17 Jul 2007
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