This post is from 2022. I have re-shared it as I understand that this sort of unprofessional behaviour has continued. I concluded this old post by saying that we need to be kind to one another. It is reasonable to expect healthcare professionals to understand this and to promote the values of the caring profession*
Professor Rob Howard is an influential psychiatrist on Twitter. As a former Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists he seems to be regarded by many as a College ‘spokesperson’. It would appear that the Royal College of Psychiatrists agree with this unofficial ‘understanding’. The evidence for this is abundant as Professor Howard routinely ignores Core Values for Psychiatrists yet the College, day after day, turns a blind eye to this. Here, exchanges on prescribed harm:
Contributor #1, 15 April 2022: “Now we’re going back to prescribed harm again”
Prof Rob Howard, 15 April 2022: “Don’t rouse them whatever you do
Contributor #2, 15 April 2022: “Don’t wake the dragons”
Prof Rob Howard, 20 June 2022: “It makes me uncomfortable because I struggle to spell it.”
Contributor #2, 20 June 2022: “H-A-R-M”
Prof Rob Howard, 20 June 2022: “You’d think I’d have got it by now.”
Contributor #2, 20 June 2022: “Maybe we should get it tattooed on you!”
Prof Rob Howard, 20 June 2022: “No space left.”
Contributor #2, 20 June 2022: “We will get you an antipsych to follow you round and ‘help’ you remember.”
Professional values matter. That is why organisations have collectively agreed the values that matter to the profession. Such as these:
*In January 2024 the Royal College of Psychiatrists rewrote its social media policy:
The major change in this “updated” College policy is that the vast majority of it only applies to “any member of the College who is a Senior College Office Holder or Other College Post Holder.”
Previous College social media policies, including upholding the values of the College, had applied to the entire membership. The new policy introduces an interesting re-definition of what is commonly understood as membership. As well as removing the College’s responsibility for oversight this policy change appears to give the wider membership licence to depart from College values when using social media.
In a time where the impact on mental health of online behaviour is being increasingly recognised as a society-wide issue surely the College should be taking a more proactive role rather than retreating from taking responsibility for the behaviour of its full membership.
Prof Howard on “fellow mental health professionals” who have expressed concern about his unprofessional behaviour and abusive language on social media.
1st May 2025:
