Remarkable lives: Jo Mullen in conversation with Jerome Carson
| Date | 11 June 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-03-2018-0013 |
| Pages | 121-127 |
| Published date | 11 June 2018 |
| Author | Jo Mullen,Jerome Carson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Remarkable lives: Jo Mullen in
conversation with Jerome Carson
Jo Mullen and Jerome Carson
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Jo Mullen.
Design/methodology/approach –Jo provides a short background to her life and is then interviewed
by Jerome.
Findings –Jo tells us about the teaching resources that she has developed to increase understanding of
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
Research limitations/implications –While this is a single case study, it containsnumerous helpful insights
of how Jo has developed and presented her work, along with two mental health nurses, and of the high
quality educational interventions she has produced.
Practical implications –Jo presents a model of co-production, where service partner and mental health
professional are equals.
Social implications –It would be helpful if mental health services invested in supporting talented individuals
like Jo, to develop and disseminate the tools she has created.
Originality/value –Thus far Jo has written her own personal account of what it is like to cope with BPD, a
bigger training resource, “Wot R U Like?”and a board game, Personapoly, to help individuals solve social and
personal problems.
Keywords Education, Co-production, Borderline personality disorder (BPD), Person-centred care,
Mental health nurses, Service partner
Paper type Case study
Introduction
I came into contact with Jo by an unusual route. Jo had e-mailed me about the possibility of
studying for a PhD by professional practice, via distance learning. Through a series of e-mails I
got to know Jo’s story and came to learn of her innovative work. We learned we had a mutual
clinical psychology acquaintance and also that we had a connection with the Scottish town of
Elgin, where Jo now lives. Here is Jo’s remarkable story in her own words […].
Brief biography of Jo Mullen
At 47 years old, I feel that I’ve lived a very long life. I managed to survive a childhood full of anxiety
and too much time spent away from my mother. Entrusting several others with my care, she
expected them to show kindness and ensure my safety. Some of them, however, couldn’t deliver
on either. Teenage years brought difficulty relating to others amidst desperate attempts to fit in
and a futile search for someone to look after me. My 20s and 30s saw much of the same. At 33,
I received a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) during my first admission to a
psychiatric ward. It was from this point on that my life started to make more sense. Up till then I
had labelled myself in wholly negative terms because of the feelings, thoughts and behaviours I
couldn’t control. Also, I reasoned, that if there was an official name for the difficulties I was
experiencing, then surely there must be others in the world just like me –perhaps I didn’t need to
feel lonely or strange anymore. I felt relieved. I truly believe, however, that had I received the
diagnosis much earlier in my life, I wouldn’t have managed to push myself through O-Levels,
Jo Mullen is based in Elgin, UK.
Jerome Carson is a Professor
of Psychology at the
Department of Psychology,
University of Bolton,
Bolton, UK.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-03-2018-0013 VOL. 22 NO. 3 2018, pp. 121-127, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
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MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
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