Nursery World - Interview - Natalie Kane and Gillian Muir

Natalie Kane has won BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind Award (individual category) 2021 for the mental health support she gives to the nursery staff, after she was nominated by Gillian Muir. This year there were more than 1,100 entries for the awards, which recognise the people and organisations that have gone beyond the call of duty to help support people with their mental health. The individual award recognises a family member, friend, manager or colleague who offered significant support.

Natalie Kane, manager of Trinity Tots in Edinburgh, and Gillian Muir, early years administrator at Trinity Tots in Edinburgh

TELL US YOUR STORY AND EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH?

Gill In 2004, I had the world at my feet. Newly married, I had just completed my probationary year as a teacher in my local special school and was looking forward to a long and prosperous career in a role I loved.

Flash forward to 2006 and after, literally, many ups and downs, I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. From then on, I felt like a magnet, receiving multiple mental health diagnoses, including binge eating disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which can see me go from happy to suicidal in a matter of hours. Suffice to say these diagnoses did not augur well with the stresses and strains of teaching and I was medically retired from teaching in 2014.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included