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Raw pain is etched on Jacks fathers face as he finally realises how his undiagnosed mental illness – and erratic manic behaviour – hurt the ones he loves the most.
In a new BBC documentary, celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is talking to his son for the first time about how he became impossible to live with.
“Wed plan it three weeks in advance, getting prepared just to see you for half an hour,” says Jack, who now runs a restaurant himself. “If Id seen that then I would have immediately thought, That is a sick man,” he says.
The high-octane celebrity chefs environment allowed his erratic behaviour to thrive. His brand flourished, nurturing the capricious genius, and he was supported by a team that kept him functioning. ”
The UK has a stark shortage of psychiatrists and mental health professionals so patients face waits that often stretch over years. On average it takes someone more than nine years to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder from first contact with a GP.
During my many interviews about the disorder, I heard psychiatrists describe bipolar patients as “ghosts in the system”, “the ones that fell through the cracks” and simply as “forgotten” or “let down”.
Lithium use, and timely access to psychiatrists are both directly linked to a reduction in suicidal thoughts in people with bipolar disorder. ”
Hestons journey mirrors that of many: misunderstood mood swings, delayed diagnosis, and the long road to balance.
