Services to mental health recognised in Queen's birthday honours
Four scientists and clinicians from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours today, reflecting the importance of mental health research and treatment in the UK.
Professor Sir John Strang has received a knighthood for services to medicine, addiction and public health; Professor Peter McGuffin a CBE for services to biomedical research and psychiatric genetics; Professor Ivan Eisler an OBE for services to family therapy; and Dr Peter Hindley, consultant in child and adolescent mental health, an MBE for services to children and young people's mental health.
Sir John Strang is a Professor of Addictions at IoPPN and Director of the National Addiction Centre at IoPPN and SLaM, he is a consultant psychiatrist in Addictions at SLaM and leader of the Addictions Clinical Academic Group at King’s Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre (KHP). He is world-renowned for his work on addictions which impacts research, treatment and public policy. He has chaired and served on key committees and guidelines groups for the Department of Health, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence and works with the World Health Organisation and United Nations.
Professor Sir John Strang said: ‘I am particularly pleased that the honour is ‘for services to medicine, addiction, and public health’. My field of work often attracts strong opinions and the objectivity of medical and scientific practice is not always valued. My appreciation of the honour is consequently greater.
‘I consider that I receive this honour on behalf of those with whom I work - the many clinicians and scientists who work in medicine, in addictions and in public policy as well as the individuals and families who struggle to break free of the bonds of their addictions – without all of their contributions, our society would be the poorer. It is on their shoulders that I stand, and it is, in my opinion, with them that I receive this honour.’
Professor Shitij Kapur, Executive Dean of IoPPN at King’s said: ‘My warmest congratulations to Sir John, Peter, Ivan and Peter. This is a victory for mental health and a reflection of the outstanding expertise we have in this country. It is also testament to what can be achieved with many years’ commitment to research and treatment working side by side.’
Dr Matthew Patrick, chief executive of SLaM, said: ‘Many congratulations to all four members of staff for this tremendous achievement. The honours reflect years of hard work and demonstrate just how important the relationship is between SLaM and the IoPPN in providing world-class research, care and treatment for people with mental health problems.
‘Between the two organisations we provide a wealth of expertise across the UK in this area and the honours recognise this. This is excellent news.’
Notes to editors
For further media information please contact Louise Pratt, Public Relations and Communications Manager at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London on Louise.a.pratt@kcl.ac.uk 020 7848 5378/+44 7850 919020.