Szara Coote
To ensure we have a voice in health service and supporting others to do the same. I am passionate about representing patients in the conditions that are my areas of interest - Talipes / Foot drop / Mental Illness / Scoliosis / Menopause
About Me
Having worked in accountancy for 30 years and as a survivor of domestic abuse, I myself became a mental health service user. I felt let down, no one actually listened. Patients needed to be heard.
In 2014 I became the founder of 'Shoosh No More' and after a life time of silence, I finally had a voice and became determined to help other people speak out. To educate and raise awareness.
I was born with right Talipes, and due to stigma, I kept it a secret. I was later was diagnosed with Scoliosis and foot drop. Still no one helped, nor listened and I remained lost in the system. When I moved to Cambridgeshire that initially continued, but I felt strongly that Patient & Public involvement is crucial within our care services. I set up and facilitated a local mental health group and I am trained to run a domestic abuse programme. I helped with teaching in the Department of Psychiatry University of Cambridge, Joined the Q community and became an East of England Citizen Senate.
Since then I have been representing the patient voice locally, regionally and nationwide.
Condition interest or area of knowledge
- Talipes
- Foot drop
- Mental Illness
- Scoliosis
- Menopause
Where I can help
- Bedfordshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- UK (National)
Organisations I am involved with:
- University of Cambridge
- *The Sun Network
- Freedom Programme Ltd
- MHFA England
- East of England Citizen Senate
- Psyomics
- PPG
