Mary Charlton

Founder member, Trustee and Secretary.

Mary is a carer for her daughter Jane who has lived with DPRD for 18 years. Having searched unsuccessfully for a local support group for carers to fit around her working hours she pledged to set one up when she retired. This group has now been running for over two years. She then furthered her involvement with mental health networks locally to raise awareness of depersonalisation and derealisation disorder, giving talks to nursing students at the local university.

Mary’s involvement with the board of Unreal enables her to support raising awareness nationally, and through this to drive improvements in diagnosis and treatment for this little-understood and debilitating condition. 

Mary also chairs the EbE Patient and Carers group in the School of Health Sciences at Southampton University. This is a voluntary role working in partnership with senior leaders to put the 'voice' of patients and carers central to education policy - from student recruitment to curriculum design, teaching and assessment.

Prior to retirement Mary enjoyed a long career in primary education and was headteacher of a junior school for 16 years.

 “Caring for a daughter who has lived with DPRD for many years, and watching how she and others manage this condition to be able to live the best lives they can, I am awestruck by the determination and courage, the creativity and resilience shown each and every day."