Daksha Emson

Daksha Emson

SpR Community & Rehabilitation Psychiatry - Royal London Hospital

• Passed away: 27th October 2000

The stigma around mental illness in the medical profession, fear of judgment, shame and potential damage to her career all made Daksha feel that she had to hide her condition.

When she did seek help, these were often hurried, informal consultations in hospital corridors, preventing her from accessing comprehensive care. It is a huge tragedy that the deaths of Daksha and Freya happened, and we acknowledge and remember the impact this had.

The inquiry into their deaths highlighted the need for a confidential mental health service, a service which became NHS Practitioner Health. All those years later, we still remember Daksha and Freya and the fact that without their loss, our service may not exist. Their legacy lives on through our work today.

Through remembrance, reflection and action, we strive to build a culture where seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness and where every health and care worker knows that confidential, high-quality care and hope for recovery are always available. We hope that anybody feeling as Daksha did knows that today a service exists that will not judge, will not share confidential information unnecessarily, and will ensure access to high-quality care to help them recover.

On behalf of Practitioner Health, we pay tribute to your life and your service. You made a difference, and you will never be forgotten.

Image shows: Daksha Emson and her daughter Freya Emson