Today, His Majesty The King announced his 2024 New Year Honours list marking the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK.
We are delighted that five RCPsych leaders, among others, have been recognised for their contributions to psychiatry and mental health. They include:
RCPsych Fellow, Professor Timothy Kendall has received a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to mental health care in England. Tim is a Consultant Psychiatrist for the homeless at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.
He is also NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Mental Health and a Director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
He has been a visiting professor at University College London for the last eight years.
As Medical Director, he has overseen changes that have eliminated of out-of-area treatments and initiated the development of NICE recommended personality disorder services within the community.
RCPsych Member, Professor Bienvenido Arturo Langa Ferreira has been awarded Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to vulnerable people in Scotland. Bienvenido is a Consultant Psychiatrist at NHS Lanarkshire specialising in adults with learning disabilities who is a passionate advocate for patient safety.
He also sits on the Court of Queen Margaret University as well as being a Visiting Professor at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
RCPsych Fellow, Professor Ulrike Schmidt has received an OBE for services to people with eating disorders. Ulrike is a Consultant Psychiatrist in the eating disorders service at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She also holds roles as Professor of Eating Disorders at Kings College London and leads the eating disorders and obesity theme in the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Maudsley NHS and Kings.
Ulrike has contributed to national and international initiatives to improve eating disorders policy and practice. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including an NIHR Senior Investigator Award, and the Academy for Eating Disorders Leadership Award for Research (2021).
Professor Schmidt has also led the development and research on FREED, a multi award-winning early intervention programme for young people with eating disorders, rolled out nationally in England.
RCPsych Member, Dr Edward Day has received an MBE for services to vulnerable people. Edward is a Consultant Psychiatrist who combines clinical work in the NHS with research and teaching at the University of Birmingham. He specialises in the treatment of drug and alcohol use disorders, and his research focuses on testing novel pharmacological and psychosocial interventions.
Dr Day was appointed the National Recovery Champion by the Home Office in May 2019. He set up and ran an MSC program in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviours at the University of Birmingham between 2008 and 2012. He currently teaches about addictions-related issues and is developing a module on addictions and mental illness on the new Institute for Mental Health MSc program.
Dr Edward Day is also the Vice-President of the Society for the Study of Addiction.
RCPsych Member Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan Tareen has received an MBE for services to mental ill health and community development in Northern Ireland. Until June 2023, Muhammad was a Consultant Psychiatrist at Northern health and Social Care Trust, where he was the lead psychiatrist for the adult autistic spectrum diagnostic service. He is now a consultant at the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, specialising in general adult psychiatry.
He uses Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing for trauma treatments. He successfully ran an international project on trauma treatment as a capacity-building initiative for developing countries.
He is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and an Honorary Lecturer at Queens University.
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“We are extremely proud of the psychiatrists who have been included in this year’s Honours. Their achievements demonstrate the importance of striving for the best possible care for those with mental illness. Our members will continue to highlight the impact of mental illness, the need for early and effective intervention and push for a brighter future for mental health services.”
Partners recognised in New Year Honours
Along with several others, the College would like to congratulate a number of our partners recognised in the New Year Honours for their tireless work over the years to improve services and mental health. They are:
Professor Dame Carol Mary Black DBE, Independent Adviser on Combatting Drugs, who received a Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for public service.
Dr Jennifer Dixon CBE, the Chief Executive of The Health Foundation, who has been awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to the NHS and to public health.
Professor Neil James McCready Mortensen. Lately President, Royal College of Surgeons of England who has been made Knights Bachelor for his services to surgery.
Dr Mala Rao OBE, Senior Clinical Fellow at Imperial College London, who has been awarded a CBE for or services to public health, the NHS, and to equality and diversity.
Professor Margaret Mary Rae, lately President of UK Faculty of Public Health, who has been awarded a CBE for services to public health and to public health standards.
Dr Denise Marie Chaffer, lately Director, Safety and Learning, NHS Resolution and lately President of the Royal College of Nursing, who has been awarded a CBE for services to services to patient safety.
Emrys Shaun Elias, lately Chair of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, who has been awarded an OBE for services to the NHS and mental health services in Wales.
David Nuttall, Deputy Director, Neurodiversity, Disability and Learning Disability, at the Department of Health and Social Care, who has been awarded an OBE for services to people with Down Syndrome.
Marcus Edward Trescothick MBE, Mental Health Ambassador at The Professional Cricketers’ Association, who has been awarded an OBE for services to mental ill health.
Alfred Oluwafemi Oyekoya, Director of Black Asian Minority Ethnic Mental Health Support, who has received an MBE for services to minority ethnic communities in Wales.
Kenneth James Gordon Harvey Ross. Founding Officer, National Down Syndrome Policy Group, who has received an MBE for services to Charity, to Education and to People with Down Syndrome.
Kathryn Rose Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mental Health Providers, who has been awarded an MBE for services to mental health.
Ian Alexander Russell, Chair of Trustees at The Molly Rose Foundation, who has received an MBE for services to child safety online.
Other notable recipients
Other recipients who have made an important contributions to mental health include:
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Christopher Neil Hunter Gordon, Chairman, Resources for Autism. For services to people with autism and their families.
Lorraine Pfavayi Sunduza, lately Chief Nurse, East London NHS Foundation Trust. For services to mental and community health
Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Carrie Byrom, Director at Stable Lives. For services to mental health and the community in North West England. -
- David Lampton Grey Cochrane, Head of Forensic Social Work, Forensic Mental Health and High Secure Care, West London NHS Trust. For services to health and social care.
- Jessica Miriam Bryson Davidson, Senior Clinical Forensic Charge Nurse. For services to forensic nursing and to victim support in Scotland.
- Alice Maria Hendy, Founder of R;pple Suicide Prevention Charity. For services to online safety.
Jacqueline Penelope Suttie, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, PTSD UK. For services to people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Medal of the Order of the British Empire
- Dr Jane Wilcock. Chair, North West Faculty, Royal College of General Practitioners and lately General Practitioner, Silverdale Medical Practice, Swinton, Greater Manchester. For services to general practice.
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896