Sheffield mental health campaigner awarded in New Year's Honours list

Sue Sibbald, a personality disorder peer specialist at the Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has been given the honour for her services to mental health.

Sue, 56, was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder nine years ago, and found that very little help was available in Sheffield for people with such a diagnosis.

After writing a letter to Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust outlining the NICE guidelines for the help that should be available, Sue was contacted by Professor Tim Kendall, NHS England's National Clinical Director for Mental Health.

Prof Kendall asked Sue if she would like to work alongside the trust to help others who had been diagnosed with a personality disorder.

She now works tirelessly for the trust, running family therapy sessions, and campaigns for better access to treatment.

Sue also helps to train staff in the trust, and works alongside the University of Sheffield to train students who are studying to become GPs.

When she received the letter to say she was to receive the accolade, Sue says she was in ‘total shock’.

“I looked at the letter about three times, I couldn’t get my head around it,” she said.

“I was in total shock but I’m really pleased. I’m proud of the work I do, and I’m proud of the people I work with.”

Sue works hard alongside a range of agencies to battle the stigma of personality disorders – a term which she says she wishes she could change.

“The label is hugely stigmatising. I’m not disordered, I had a traumatic childhood.

“A name such as ‘relational trauma’, or ‘emotionally sensitive’ would help reduce the stigma. People with the diagnosis often find life difficult because of past trauma and abuse.”

As well as her work for the trust in Sheffield, Sue spreads her message nationally, and is co-chair of the National Personality Disorder Commission (NPDC), and adds her voice to the annual national conference inquiry into suicide.

Sue has also had a hand in a consensus statement signed by the RCP, the Royal College of Nursing, mental health charities, professionals and those with experience of personality disorders, which was launched in Parliament demanding improvement to the "appalling treatment" sufferers receive.

She has produced a leaflet for the trust to help people with a diagnosis understand the condition better, based upon her own experiences.

“When I was first diagnosed, I hadn’t even heard of borderline personality disorder, and didn’t know anyone else with it,” Sue added.

“I set up #BPDchat on Twitter so anyone can join in. It’s so people don’t feel so alone.

“Emotions can be so difficult to manage, and if we keep speaking about it, we can get rid of the stigma.”