Pink Floyd pilot and former army officer honoured for work combating PTSD
A FORMER Army Officer and Royal Navy Commando pilot, who works as the pilot for band Pink Floyd, has been honoured for his work combating PTSD.
Tim Boughton, 54, who used to live in Kempsey but now lives in Hampshire was awarded an honorary degree by Middlesex University for his work with serving veteran and emergency services personnel.
"It is humbling to be recognised in this way amongst a cohort of truly amazing people," said Mr Boughton.
"I never thought that at 54 I would be able to receive such an honour, especially as I was not up to much through school.
"For me the importance is using this platform to further the work in the mindfulness and mental health arena and to collaborate closely with the university to see how we can make peoples' lives better in an uncertain world.
"Our ability to help others and understand how we can adapt amongst such uncertainty must be at the forefront of what we do."
READ MORE: Hunt for good Samaritans who helped after woman reportedly fell into river
READ MORE: Woman in her 90s left terrified after finding burglar in living room
READ MORE: Boy injured in 'vicious' attack at food and music festival
With a background in the army as an infantry officer and as a commando helicopter pilot with the Royal Navy, the 54-year-old overcame his own mental health issues -including PTSD - inspiring his mission to impower others.
He has since become a speaker and global advisor in cognitive performance and mental health, alongside working as the pilot for the band Pink Floyd.
In 2019, he was appointed as the specialist advisor to the British Army for mental health and has given evidence on numerous occasions to Parliament.
He went on to complete a Master's degree in Mindful Based Cognitive Therapy at Oxford University, and is on the way to attaining a second Masters in psychology.
His study of more than 280 mental health apps led to the creation of an award-winning six week programme that has saved lives and transformed approaches in trauma care for elite personnel in the military and sport.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Weight loss consultant named finalist in national weight loss 'Oscars' awards
A weight loss consultant has been named a finalist in a national award scheme, known as the 'Slimming World Oscars'. Lisa Norris, who runs a Slimming World group at the Lysaght Institute in Newport, was shortlisted for Group of the Year in Slimming World's annual awards, which celebrate consultants who support members in losing weight and improving their wellbeing. Ms Norris said: "To be recognised and rewarded for doing a role that I love is so special. "Working for such an exceptional company as a franchisee, and as part of the South-Central Wales district, I couldn't be more honoured. "This recognition belongs to every person who has found the courage to walk into my group with their dream, and it is an honour to see these members grow in confidence week by week. "They are the ones who make our group the success that it is, with their friendship and support they give to each other weekly. "They make the group such a fun, safe, judgement-free place to be." Lisa Norris has been recognised as a finalist in the Slimming World 'Oscars' (Image: Supplied) Ms Norris, who supports more than 100 members each week, said she was "blown away" by the news that her group had made the finals. The phone call from her district manager, Scott Hawkins, left her in disbelief. She said: "I couldn't believe that the call was real, and asked, 'Are you sure?'" Alongside the finalist nomination, Ms Norris and her husband John were also selected to join Slimming World's annual all-expenses-paid consultants' trip. Lisa Norris and her husband John were also chosen to join Slimming World's all-expenses paid consultants' trip (Image: Supplied) In early May, the couple flew from Heathrow to Athens for a week of luxury in the exclusive Kolonaki district. Ms Norris said: "We were treated like celebrities, from the champagne reception, to the beautiful five-course evening meal with breath-taking views of the Acropolis, guided tours to the Temple of Poseidon, a hands-on cookery course, a Greek dancing lesson and sailing along the stunning coastline with an unforgettable evening of Greek food and dancing beneath the stars." The trip was Slimming World's 36th and the vision of the company's late founder, Margaret Miles Bramwell OBE, who died in February. Ms Norris said: "Margaret was always so excited to celebrate the achievements of her consultants and their members, taking part in each trip, planning and hosting every detail, so for this to be the first trip without her was an emotional one. "We did our best to keep her memory alive and remember that everything we do from here on in is to honour her and keep our promise to retain our commitment to helping as many people who need us in their weight loss journey." Slimming World is known for its supportive approach, offering encouragement not only to members but also to its consultants. Ms Norris was selected as a finalist for her "unwavering dedication" and "exceptional standards of service" in supporting both members and colleagues. She runs her award-winning group at the Lysaght Institute, Orb Drive, Newport, on Saturdays at 8am, 10am, and 11.30am. Details of how to join a local group or become a Slimming World consultant can be found at
WebMD
an hour ago
- WebMD
Dating with Bipolar Disorder
Being honest about your mental health can have a really positive impact on your life and the lives of those around you. In my personal experience, the more I've opened up about my bipolar disorder and the struggles that come with it, the better I feel. There's no denying the stigma that still exists around mental illness, but I've found that the best way to combat the related misconceptions is to talk about it. For me, this is especially true in my dating life. I can't remember a time when I haven't made some mention of mental health or my own journey with it once I began dating someone. It's not that I detail my recent hypomanic episode or list out the prescriptions I take, but I do find it helpful and pretty freeing to be transparent about my condition. Doing so gives me the opportunity to give the person I'm seeing more insight into who I am and how I experience the world, to answer questions, and connect with them on an emotional level. It also helps me to suss out how they might handle it as a potential romantic partner. I've been very lucky to have dated partners who were both empathetic and open-minded about my having bipolar disorder. Some have even intervened during an episode, a panic attack, or made sure to text me each day as a reminder to take my medication when I struggled to stay consistent. Not only did these things make me feel reassured and cared for, but they also reaffirmed to me how beneficial it is to communicate about my condition and how it is impacting me. Based on what previous partners have told me, it isn't always easy to love someone who has bipolar disorder. When I first received my diagnosis, it wasn't just my life that was changed: the community of people in my life were impacted, too. This is especially true in the case of spending time or living with a romantic partner. They often have the most intimate connection with you, meaning that they see every facet of who you are up close. Although it was hard for him to admit (and hard for me to process), an ex of mine told me that my hypomanic episodes sometimes scared him. He knew me well enough to recognize when my behavior changed because of hypomania, and while he was proactive about caring for me in those moments, it still affected him emotionally. Rather than getting defensive or taking what he said to heart, I tried to use that conversation as a learning moment. Taking responsibility for my own mental health isn't just for my own benefit. It is also necessary and the least I can do for the people who love and support me. Dating itself isn't always simple. At times, I find that I don't really even enjoy the process of meeting new people on dates. That said, if you — like me — would enjoy having a romantic partnership one day, being open about your mental health is one of the best practices that can lead to a healthy, strong relationship. There is so much strength in vulnerability, so sharing that part of your life with someone you care about is just another way to flex your emotional health 'muscle.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
In Pictures: Race for Life at Stanmer Park
More than 2000 people turned up to Cancer Research UK's bumper weekend of Race for Life events. Held at Brighton's Stanmer Park, the Pretty Muddy run took place on Saturday (June 28) while the Race for Life took place on Sunday. On Saturday, 1,239 people took part in Race for Life 'Pretty Muddy', clambering over and under obstacles including a scramble net, tunnels, a climbing frame, space hoppers and a giant, inflatable slide into a very dirty mud bath. £100,707 raised was raised at the Pretty Muddy event. On Sunday, 720 walked, jogged or ran 3k, 5k or 10k distances around the park. Around 800 people took part in the three events and £79,124 was raised. In total, 1,958 people participated across the weekend and £179,831 was raised – significantly more than the £145,000 that was estimated. The money will be used for Cancer Research UK's life-saving work, including projects being funded at the University of Sussex. Matthew White and Faye Louise (Image: Supplied) Among those at Sunday's event was dad of two from Brighton, Matthew White, who has an incurable brain tumour. He spoke passionately about his own story and thanked all those taking part for helping to make life better for future cancer patients. Former Horsham model and cancer survivor, Faye Louise, was also on hand to dish out medals to runners as they crossed the line. Crawley's Tilgate Park is hosting the same Race for Life events on July 19. Lynn Daly, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson in Sussex, said: 'Brighton did us proud, with 1,300 people literally throwing themselves into the mud on Saturday, and another 800 running and jogging through the heat on Sunday. 'We're immensely grateful to everyone who took part and to the volunteers who gave up their weekends to help us put the events on and make sure everyone was safe. 'No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime but all of us can support the research that will beat it. We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact. Every pound raised supports our life-saving work, which has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the last 50 years.'
