OCD Action : India Haylor – Communications - The national UK charity providing support and information to anybody affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Trustees

India Haylor – Communications

My name is India Haylor. I have long respected and observed OCD Action’s dedicated, consistent and dignified approach to helping those people and families with OCD who have nowhere else to turn.

As such I am very excited and enthusiastic about my
new role as Trustee in charge of Communications. Supported by an impressive and highly respected Board, I am really keen to get started on the new initiatives we have planned because let’s face it, I believe we are at something of a seminal point in the history of OCD and perhaps, mental health in general, particularly in the UK.

As a private practitioner dealing with OCD I have noticed many changes over the last few years. Due to the sterling work of organisations such as OCDA building awareness, many of our clients are already “OCD-educated” before they even receive treatment. As far as I am concerned, this is very heartening and I look forward to the next 5 years.

Having OCD as an adult is alienating and debilitating enough but if we can reach out to confused, lonely and frightened young people, we won’t have so many adults in crisis. My remit will include figuring out how to create a safe forum and environment for them to step forward and get help.

It is important that the message shouldn’t be bleak. There are so many of us with OCD (me included) who are living full and enriched lives and, ahem, using my OCD to my advantage every day (I hesitated because I know this may be a new concept to some). All of my staff have OCD and with good reason. They are simply the best, most effective people to have. If more successful and highly performing people who are affected could be encouraged to speak out, so that those that are struggling could realise that they can be too, we will have achieved a great deal.

I am looking forward to further understanding the people we can help, identify where they are, listen to them and appreciate and respect their needs. Then to communicate this accurately and effectively to the wider community, the media, public sector, healthcare professionals and those who make decisions that may affect people with OCD. In short to continue what OCD Action has been doing for a while. To really care and give a damn and go out there and assertively say it, over and over again, or as long as it takes, on your behalf.