Mental health and wellbeing are in greater demand than ever, but waiting lists are longer than ever. When I was a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS, people had to wait 2 years to see me without charge. Those who could afford it paid 200 pounds a session or more to see a doctor privately.

I believe that good mental health is a right, not a luxury.  If people had quick access to care and treatment without the barriers of time and cost, it would enrich all of society and every community. We would have the dignity to live better lives as a whole, free from the burden of mental suffering and its consequences —  unfulfilled lives, broken families, destroyed careers, and the hidden costs of addiction, long term care and so forth.

1 in 4 people suffers from a mental disorder at some point in life. Without our minds, without the chance to make good decisions and live well, humanity is lost. 

New doctors are not made quickly enough to solve the problem. And even if there were enough doctors, the waiting would be reduced but the cost would not.

I wanted to do my part, to bring my ideas and strategy to tackle this bigger picture. So now `i left the NHS and set out to do something genuinely different, innovative, knowing what I know about the science, the data, and the treatments that help people get better. 

First, I took away the barriers of cost and location. During COVID, I set up an online system, seeing people from anywhere in the world, remotely by Zoom or whatsapp. I still do this. If someone can't afford to see me, I see them without charge. Those who can afford to pay, pay. 

 Second, I noticed that 80% of mental health problems are mild to moderate, For many of these issues, they are amenable to treatment by the person themselves. People can get better by learning some basic knowledge and techniques that directly reduce, and even cure, their condition. 

I wrote books and self-help courses online, and made videos on youtube, all about different everyday mental health issues and how to overcome them. They are low cost; royalties are very small, but I don't need that much to live well. This works well. In fact, some of my books and courses sold so well that they can be accessed or downloaded for free.

However, the problem of waiting lists remains. My waiting list is around 19 months long now, and there's only one of me. 

So in 2023, I paused my social media campaigns, retreated to my research, and produced, I think, something that would help many, more people.  .