Stephen Conkling Tilley

We chose to donate to SAMH in honour of our Father, Dr Stephen Conkling Tilley, who devoted his life to researching and educating people about Mental Health, working with and for people in the Mental Health Services and Communities in Scotland. Steve worked in the adolescent ward in the Crichton Royal Hospital as a Mental Health Nurse. His work included behavioural and cognitive therapy for mental health patients. Some of his clinical experience from the hospital was later published in academic journals and books on psychiatric nursing. Steve was a Senior Lecturer in Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh, showing a particular interest in the connections between Health and Spirituality in Nursing Theory and lived experiences of service users and survivors.  His lifelong commitment to Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing had a profound and lasting impact on people in his adopted country of Scotland. Steve's influence reached international audiences - he helped facilitate links between mental health activists and academics in Scotland, Canada and New Zealand. He worked on projects such as ‘Oor Mad History' and 'Working Like Crazy' with the Ragged University and Ryerson University. His work helped foster international dialogue around mad-positive studies and the history of mental health. In recognition of his contributions to psychiatric nursing and the Mental Health World, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Edinburgh.