We are delighted to welcome Richard to the board of trustees. He brings with him a unique set of skills and experiences both as a GP of over 20 years experience and a survivor of serious mental illness. He is passionate about mental wellbeing in the emergency services and regularly speaks to both trainee and experienced practitioners. Himself a fully trained hostage and crisis negotiator, he speaks at every UK National Hostage Negotiation course about mental illness and self-care. He brings a very powerful message, that if it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone. We are excited that he has chosen to continue his important work through the BLSO.
Richard Gorrod is a 57-year-old doctor who has worked at the coalface of patient care for 32 years. He qualified at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London and has been a GP in Norfolk for over 20 years. He has also been training director for Norfolk Accident Rescue Service and a Surgeon Lt Cdr in the Royal Naval Reserve both for many years. He worked in a 15000 patient practice. In 2014 he became very ill with depression which knocked him for six for a few years and necessitated him being a Psychiatric Inpatient for over 4 months! Severely depressed and suicidal for 3-4 years in total. It had a devastating effect on him and his family.
Now passionate about improving mental health care, he regularly lectures to doctors, medical students at the UEA and University of Cambridge, paramedics, physician associates, other healthcare workers and the general public.
He is a fully trained Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiator lecturing to the police nationally.
His particular interests are Suicide Prevention, self-care and the better integration of physical and mental health.
He is married with three children, two dogs, three cats, fourteen Norfolk Grey chickens and fifteen Indian Runner ducks. Loves football (Norwich City Season Ticket holder) and rugby and plays the saxophone (badly).