Awards

 Journalism and writing

• 1982 – Campaigning Journalist of the Year (British Press Awards) for her “gift in combining great compassion with objectivity. Her revealing and moving features on the aged, disabled and the thousands at the mercy of the NHS were outstanding and will have stirred many readers into action”

• 1986 – Campaigning Journalist of the Year (British Press Awards) for her “outstanding series of articles” on schizophrenia

• 1986 – John Pringle Memorial Award for “a quite outstanding contribution to public awareness” around schizophrenia

• 1987 – Oddfellow Book Prize for The Silent Twins

• 1988 – Medical Journalist of the Year for the “most outstanding contribution to medical journalism”, especially around the greater understanding of schizophrenia

Mental health, healthcare, and medicine

• 1988 – The Snowdon Special Award for “outstanding work for the benefit of disabled people”

• 1991 – Evian Health Award for “her outstanding achievements in the field of journalism” and launching SANE

• 1992 – European Woman of Achievement

• 1994 – Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her contribution to mental health

• 1995 – Evian Health Award for “best use of media” for mental health campaigning

• 2000 – Nominated for the Millennium People of the Century Awards for people who have “made a difference” to the nation

• 2002 – UK Charity Awards, Finalist for their Lifetime Achievement Award

• 2002 – British Neuroscience Association Award for Public Service in recognition of her contribution to “raising public awareness of the benefits and achievements of brain research”

• 2006 – Portrait hung in the National Portrait Gallery in an exhibition profiling the 16 outstanding men and women who had “shaped healthcare at the beginning of the 21st Century”

• 2008 – Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for her contribution to mental health

• 2008 – Selected as one of the 60 most influential “Diamond” people in shaping the history of the NHS on their 60th Anniversary alongside Aneurin Bevan and William Beveridge.

• 2016 – Outstanding Campaigner at The Women of the Year Awards in recognition of her “extraordinary achievements not only in establishing the pioneering work of SANE but also in advocating and raising greater awareness of mental health”

• 2017 – Honorary Member, World Psychiatric Association, in recognition of her “hard work and contribution to psychiatry and mental health”

Academic

• 1989 – Guardian Research Fellow, Nuffield College, Oxford

• 1997 – Honorary Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists, given in “recognition of her outstanding service to psychiatry”

• 2001 – Honorary Doctorate of Science, City University, London, in recognition of “her achievements in mental health”

• 2004 – Fellow, University College London

• 2018 – Honorary Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford

Other recognition

• 2005 – Muslim Community International Pioneer and Diversity Award

• 2007 – The Oldie Magazine’s Campaigner of the Year

• 2007 – The High Sheriff of Greater London Award in recognition of her “great and valuable services to the community”

• 2008 – Selected by Saga Magazine as the third “wisest person in the UK”

• 2008 – Selected by The Observer as one of their 100 women who “shook the world”

• 2008 – Selected by The Daily Mail as one of their “100 most influential women in Britain”