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As a non-medically trained author, to have my book ‘Another Twinkle in the Eye – Contemplating another pregnancy after perinatal mental illness’,  highly commended for outstanding contribution to medical literature by the British Medical Association, is such an honour. Last night I went to the Awards ceremony held at BMA house in London to discover if I had been awarded the Popular Medicine prize. Here is my account.

I first received an email informing me of the award via my publishers at CRC Press in June. The information was to remain confidential until the event took place. I have been bursting to tell people!  The invitation was for four of us so I took my parents and son, Marius with me. The day before I had spoken at Olympia in London to around 450 nurses at the Nursing in Practice event, so I was already in the capital. My family joined me around lunchtime and we spent the afternoon at the hotel my parents were staying at. As we all got ready, there was excitement in the air!

We got a taxi to Tavistock Square and arrived at the impressive BMA buildings. I think it has to be one of the most prestigious events I have ever been to. Issued with badges and a thick programme we made our way to the drinks reception held in the beautiful courtyard. I think we were all in shock at simply being there. The weather was incredibly warm and still. We had drinks and photos.

I looked at the programme to find my book mentioned – on page 57. There was a review on it:

“This book is a very good combination of information on issues related to perinatal mental illness for the general public and health professionals. It could be enough as a general read, but it also serves as a guide and reference book for anyone who has suffered from perinatal mental health illness or has to care for someone as such, be that as a family, friend or professional. The book strengths are that the contents are the product of the experience of the author, both personally and from her own research. From this point of view it comes across as truthful and genuine. The fact that there are chapters to which specialised health professionals have contributed their authoritative opinions adds to its strength. Although not a major drawback, but as the author has a lot of material from her survey and most of it is qualitative, there is a tendency to some avoidable repetition. I enjoyed this book greatly. It has a lot in it but it is presented in an engaging way, so it does not tire the reader, despite the endless references and resources cited.”

Looking ahead at some of the reviews in the same category as mine, I could see immediately that the chances of me getting the prize was slim. For example, the review on ‘Finding Your Way with Your Baby: The emotional life of parents and babies,’ by Dilys Daws and Alexandra de Rementeria, read:

“This book tackles an area that is so relevant to so many but still so difficult to talk about. It offers reassurance and explanation as we all try as new parents to manage our own expectations of ourselves with the roller coaster that is life with a new born. This is a sound and well-organised text that obviously comes from very experienced authors. This could be a very well-deserving prize winner in my opinion! This is by far my favourite of all the books I have reviewed since I have taken part in the BMA book awards as a reviewer: I congratulate the authors on their text and wish them every success.”

Yet as I read the entries all I could feel was pride at being amongst some of the best medical brains and writers! It was more than enough to be there. The full programme and details of the event are here.

We were asked to make our way inside to the most comfortable lecture space I have ever been in. The seats were so padded, they felt like armchairs. There were incredible pillars, exquisite plaster work and a total feeling of splendour!

Can you spot us on the 4th row?

There were around 300 people there – a mixture of authors and publishers and their guests plus some of the reviewers and BMA team. We were told that the submitted books were all assessed by doctors and specialists in the particular areas of medicine – a very rigorous process. All those short-listed books were therefore to be considered of a very high standard. I was glowing!

The awards began as each of the 21 categories had the short-listed books announced then the prize winner would go and receive their certificate from the BMA President, Professor Pali Hungin. The more books that were announced, along with some additional short presentations about different aspects of the BMA, the more I seemed to swell with surprise and delight to be amongst such esteemed company. Virtually all of the other entries were written by doctors, professors or those highly trained in their field. One had even travelled from Australia to be there!

Eventually my category came closer. I was aware my heart began to beat faster in anticipation, even though I knew it was highly unlikely my book would be announced. Here it is –

I was absolutely delighted at the ‘Baby Book’ being the winner. It still is a subject so close to my heart and an important aspect of the First 1001 Critical Days work I am involved with at Parliament. I also want a copy of it!

Once all the different categories had been awarded, there were special prizes given. One of these was by the past President of the BMA. I almost jumped up and shouted ‘Yessss!’ when he gave this to ‘Parental Psychiatric Disorder’ 3rd ed. Andrea Reupert, Darryl Maybery, Joanne Nicholson, Michael Göpfert and Mary V Seeman – Cambridge University Press, 2015 (page 68 in the programme). Immediate BMA past president, Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green  commented: “’Think adult, think child’ is a key philosophy for practitioners managing illnesses in parents that are likely to impact on the children in the family. In other words, they should ask routinely ‘what are the effects of this adult’s illness on the children in the family?’  With the soaring impact of adult mental and emotional ill health on clinical services and on society generally this outstanding book is timely in addressing a neglected area in a comprehensive yet practical way. It should be mandatory reading for trainees and practitioners in all professional disciplines in mental health services and in primary care as well as in child health. I commend it unreservedly.”

The fact that the BMA would appear now also be appreciating how a parental mental illness impacts more than the ‘patient’ is wonderful.

The BMA Medical Book of the Year 2016 was announced as ‘A Practical Guide to Fetal Echocardiography: Normal and Abnormal Hearts’. 3rd Edition by Alfred Abuhamad and Rabih Chaoui.

Can you imagine the skills and knowledge that have gone into that? That’s why I am still stunned at being in the shortlist!

At the end of the ceremony we all went back to the courtyard for a very tasty buffet supper. It was still a balmy evening and it added to the magic of the occasion. My parents were so thrilled. I know the pride I have in my son, so I can understand it. To think that the illness I suffered after he was born has lead to all this! They were of the generation that going to university was rare, so the fact that all three of their children went on to get degrees was a wonderful achievement for them as parents. To be part of an event like last night, must have made them feel they had made a contribution to society through their support. My Dad is 80 next month and I hope that being at the BMA awards with his daughter will be one of his highlights of his four score years.

Just before we had to leave for the train, I happened to come across the winners Dilys and Michael together, from the two books I mentioned. I congratulated them both and said how delighted I was. I was then so pleased because Dilys said ‘ I know you – you spoke at the PIP UK conference’. That was earlier in the year at Central Westminster Hall. And I was wearing the same jacket! Many years ago I had also met Michael at local NW meetings around Liverpool when my first book came out. I have continued to be as involved as I can be in making services better in my local area. I asked if I may have a photograph. Very worthy winners!

Between us I feel we have made ‘infant and paternal mental health’ an area of note!

My parents walked with Marius and I back to Euston and we gave our farewells. They are staying for a couple of nights for a break. Meanwhile my son and I got the train home. It was so special to have him come back with me rather than head back straight away for his final year of his photography degree. I put a short post on Facebook and in less than an hour there were many, many likes and comments. I felt choked with emotion at it all.

This accolade is for far more than me. It is for my family and friends who have always supported me so much. It is for the publishers at Radcliffe and now CRC Press who believed in my topic. It is for the many people who shared their stories with me so that I could bring ‘real life’ into my second book. It is for the countless healthcare professionals who give their care and support to families in crisis. It is to the experts in this field who so kindly contributed to this book. My gratitude and appreciation to you all is immense.

For all of us involved in ‘Another Twinkle in the Eye – Contemplating another pregnancy after perinatal mental illness’ please let this be the very best reward we can ever have. It is in a comment from another sufferer of PNI –

‘My lovely friend (who you inspired with your first book) has now had her 2nd baby and all is happy and healthy – huge kudos to you and your writing!’

I now have this song playing in my head

https://youtu.be/LEoxGJ79PMs

Appropriate too as the Paralympics are underway. We all can play our part in this world. I am delighted that my writing would appear to be doing that.

I look forward to the next few weeks of my talks.

Thank you to all at the BMA who were involved in this fabulous evening!

Please have a look at my events page and I hope to meet you at one of them soon. The next conference purely on this ‘highly commended’ book is in Edinburgh on 22nd September. There are still a few places left – book here. As part of the delegate rate you will receive a copy of the book!

So how does it feel to have your book on the shortlist for the BMA Popular Medicine Book of the Year? Unbelievable and truly amazing!

Best wishes

Elaine 🙂