Author, Speaker & Mentor
Vikie Shanks was widowed when her husband took his own life. She was left to bring up seven children, six of whom are on the autistic spectrum. Two of her children have cerebral palsy. Vikie, on her own, had no choice but to cope and to enable her children and herself to recover from the trauma of their father’s suicide. She says that people with autism need understanding rather than a cure; they have feelings and ambitions that they can achieve.
Headmistress The Head of Wimbledon High School, Jane Lunnon, says that the world has changed for her pupils. The old certainties of society aren’t there any more — what fills the gaps is often social media. Jane says young people need breaks from comparing themselves to their peers. Nothing, she says, beats a really good […]
Ex Builder Turned Mental Health Campaigner Ten years ago, Dave Lee was working as a builder. He was depressed, drinking heavily and attempted to end his life. Recovering, he looked for answers. Eventually he realised that he could only find those insights and answers inside himself. He describes the difference between the ‘personal mind’ and […]
Bipolar Art Therapist When she was a college student, Bipolar Disorder brought her to her knees. Now well-known New York art therapist and psychotherapist Maggie Robbins helps others connect with their ‘inner monster’. ‘You can almost think of anything someone makes as a self-portrait.’ Robbins, an artist herself, wrote a semi-autobiographical novel of poems while […]
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