The Cairn

Written Testimonials

I am a Social Worker in the US Army. I am currently working with a teenager who is in Foster Care and has had an absolutely horrible experience in life thus far. She is an amazing young lady with a profound ability to overcome her difficult start in life. I am constantly amazed by her resilliancy. She finds alot of healing in music and loves to sing (she has a wonderful voice). I have downloaded your album as a gift to her and I am certain she will love it. I want you to know that you are helping other young women in their healing. You have an amazing gift in your voice and your lyrics. Thank you for sharing your pain and healing with others! I can only imagine that you are as special as the young woman I am working with. I find it very uplifting that some people can find a way to rise above such pain and soar to such great heights. I would love it if there was some way for you to speak to her or write to her someday. If not, rest assured I will share your music with her and it will help her healing. Thank You again! Keep doing just what you are doing. I'm so blessed to have happened on the link to your site while searching for therapy tools. I will repurchase your album over and over to share with any future clients as a support to you. You have my deepest respect and gratitude for your uplifting, healing spirit and your willingness to share yourself to help others.
Amanda Trenta, US Army

Jean Johnston and Suzy Johnston have given me a valuable insight into mental health from differing perspectives. The mother and daughter speak from experience and are held in high regard as both are well respected voices in mental health. Johns McFall MP, Westminster, London

Suzy Johnston is an articulate proponent of patient/service user primacy within the mental health system. She has the rare ability to marry personal narrative with political analysis and an astute understanding of the workings of the mental health system to present a powerful argument that keeps at its heart the individuals whose lives and hopes the subject intimately concerns.
Catherine Jackson, Editor, Mental Health Today Magazine.


Nobody could describe or write about mental illness any better – she is spot on when it comes to telling what it is like. But people must listen to her – she is so wise about what is needed – and how it should be.
Tricia Bignall, Service user, Argyll and Bute.


The best way to learn about recovery from mental illness is through the wisdom of those who are living the experience. She reminds us how integral support is – support from family, friends and communities as well as mental health services. Her writing is an invaluable learning resource for all who are working towards Recovery.
Christine Gayler MSW, CAGS, CCRC, CPRP, Consultant and Field Associate, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University, USA.

Thank you again for the Naval Personnel and Family Workshop. Your presentation was honest and humerous and was well received by the team.
It has also prompted all of us to read your books and continue to develop our knowledge of mental health and well being. We were particularly impressed by Suzy’s coping strategies for managing her health and crisis periods and Jean’s fighting spirit in supporting Suzy to campaign for improved services for all mental health sufferers and their support services. A very rewarding and stimulating workshop.
Brenda Cormack /
Clyde Neptune, NPFS Team Manager

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For enquiries to have Suzy Johnston write or advise on mental health awareness matters, please give your name, job title, and business/organisation address with its phone number

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‘Having direct experience of how people with mental health problems are treated, Suzy Johnston is able to offer valuable insight as to the ‘system’ and how it could be improved. A passionate and committed advocate for those with mental illness and being clever and articulate, hers is a voice which is difficult to ignore. Having benefited from her knowledge, I have no hesitation in recommending Suzy as an Adviser on mental health issues.’
Jackie Baillie MSP (Member of Scottish Parliament)

Working with Suzy on the One in Four Booklet was a very positive experience as she has such a passion for raising awareness and challenging the stigma which surrounds mental health issues. She recognises the importance of targeting young people – an audience that is hard to reach using conventional methods. One of the things that shone through in Suzy’s initial drafting of the booklet, was that by drawing on her personal experiences and research, she had a unique understanding of the important issues which are relevant to young people, but more importantly she wrote in a voice and tone that ‘spoke to’ the young and did not ‘preach at’ them. Thirteen thousand of the One in Four Booklets were handed out within 10 days in the May Music Festival in Glasgow to an overwhelmingly positive response – the message was clear; One in Four is about breaking down the barriers and getting people talking about mental health – this exactly what Suzy Johnston does; she’s a breath of fresh air.
Noreen Devine, Events & Arts Officer, Scottish Association for Mental Health.

Further written references are available on request.

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Copyright © June 2004 Suzy Johnston and The Cairn