The downside of public office

Following the decision by Iris Robinson to declare her depression, pressure groups say more people in public life should be upfront about their mental health, reports Sunil Peck

Iris Robinson, Democratic Unionist MP for Strangford, has quit Westminster and the Northern Ireland Assembly. But mental health campaigners have welcomed her openness about her depression.

A controversial figure and wife of Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter, Iris Robinson sparked anger by describing homosexuality as an “abomination” in 2008.

She initially put her decision to quit down to the depression she has endured because of the pressure of public life. However, she later admitted she had tried to kill herself during a bout of depression following an extra-marital affair.

As Disability Now went to press, she was reported to be receiving treatment for significant mental health difficulties. Meanwhile, her husband was under mounting political pressure over his wife's alleged financial dealings and has temporarily stepped aside as First Minister.

Jonathan Naess, director of the user-led organisation Stand to Reason, which has been campaigning to get MPs to be open about their mental health, says that regardless of her political views or personal circumstances, Robinson has shown courage by making her mental health problems public.

“It’s very welcome that Iris Robinson made the link between her depression and stepping down from parliament. She didn’t have to do that. Many other public figures would have stepped down without making that link, so it’s brave of her.”

He added that speculation that Iris Robinson was using her illness as a way to deflect criticism away from her private life was unfair and ill-informed.

“Nobody can judge from a distance and without the full history whether someone has been ill or whether the illness has been used as an easy excuse for inappropriate behaviour.

“There has already been some criticism from those who suspect that Iris Robinson has done this which, if true, would of course do people with mental health problems a great disservice. But such armchair psychiatry is unfair, often inaccurate and extremely distasteful.”

Iris Robinson is the first MP to disclose her mental health problems since the publication of a report co-authored by Stand to Reason in 2008 that found that one in five MPs had experienced mental illness.

Naess hopes Iris Robinson's disclosure of her mental illness will pave the way for more MPs to tackle the stigma against mental illness in Westminster by revealing their condition.

“I think you have to make a distinction between a person's political views, any impropriety and their mental health. It's interesting that initially Iris Robinson received a lot of support from her political opponents including some who oppose her views on homosexuality. It shows that people are prepared to understand the health issue and her bravery in coming out."