Parliament’s youngest MP speaks out about taking time off work due to PTSD
Britain’s youngest MP has been told to take “several weeks” away from work by her doctor, as she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome has announced she will take a leave of absence from the Commons, after months of trying to manage her condition alongside full-time work.
But she said: “Unfortunately, it has become clear that this is not feasible and I have been advised by my doctor that I need to take several weeks off in order for my health to improve.”
Whittome was elected in the December 2019 election aged just 23, and became the Baby of the House.
In a statement explaining why she had disclosed the nature of her illness, she said: “I feel it is important for me to be honest that it is mental ill-health I am suffering from – specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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“One in four people will experience mental health problems each year, but there is still a great deal of shame and stigma surrounding it.
“Through being open about my own mental health struggle, I hope that others will also feel able to talk about theirs, and that I can play a small role in creating greater acceptance and facilitating healthier discussions around this issue.”
She thanked Labour leader Kier Starmer and his political secretary Jenny Chapman for their “kindness” and added that her staff would continue to support constituents.
The chief executive of a leading mental health charity praised Whittome’s transparency.
Mark Winstanley, from Rethink Mental Illness, said: “The enduring stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace can be hugely damaging, preventing people from accessing support and leading them to prioritise work over their own wellbeing for fear of judgment.
“Being signed off from work for poor mental health is not a sign of weakness, but a recognition that wellbeing should always be a priority.
“We welcome Nadia’s openness around her diagnosis and wish her well in her recovery.”
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Stigma exists attached to both mental and physical health issues in the workplace. People are afraid to reveal their truth for fear of being engineered out of their jobs, they are under such pressure to perform and reach targets. Illness in any form is looked on as weakness, and inefficiency. Despite many celebrities confessing their vulnerability and being apparently applauded for it, in the workplace it’s denigrated.