In remembrance of Ian Murray
We are extremely saddened to learn of the death of Ian Murray who died on the 30th December 2008.
Ian was an innovative and courageous mental health nurse, whose career spanned 37 years. He worked in hospital and community settings. Between 1993 and 1996 he was nursing manager at Dryll y Car Support Bed Unit in Barmouth, North Wales . Most recently Ian was working as a CPN in Meirionnyd in North Wales. He died on his way to visit a client.
Ian is perhaps best known for his work on the issue of self harm, working in partnership with people who self harmed he pioneered a humanistic approach to assisting people to cope with their experiences, including "safe" self harm techniques and an apprecaition of why people self harm. His training work on self harm and hearing voices with Sharon Lefevre, Ron Coleman and Phil Thomas has proven to be enormously influential and beneficial.
His career long dedication to changing psychiatric nursing will always be remembered. He prefered to do this "from within" by adhering to the "basic principles of empowerment and support.". As he said " .... giving support to people is the significant thing that happens in normal society," he said. "In society we support each other to recover in reciprocal ways. That is what we should try and do in nursing"
Ron Coleman, friend and colleague of Ian said of him "Ian was a wonderful guy, always supportive, funny and challenging. He related to people with mental health problems in a special way, you never felt there was a gap. I remember in Maastricht, he was mistaken by a mental health professional as a patient and was offered a free meal, rather then be insulted or angry, he thought it was hilarious and enjoyed his meal even more as a result. We will all miss him very much".
We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
If you wish, please use the message board below to pay tribute to, remember, share experiences and talk about Ian and his work.
Comments
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"I have good memories of Ian at the international hearing voices congress in Maastricht in 1996, he was so very supportive of people and we shared good laughs, I can still hear his laugh. Once when he rang me I answered with, "Psychiatric Nurse Abuse-Line, would you like 5 minutes or the full half hour?", he bellowed back "I'll take the full half hour", we did laugh. He was a lovely man who I greatly respected, we shared a similar outlook on many things and especially in our respective work in the field of self harm. We shared many a good rant. He embodied what nursing should be about - reciprocity, respect and care, seeing the person behind the diagnosis, engaging with the person. If he had been my CPN I would have trusted him with my life. I really miss him already, I think of things I'd like to chat with him about. People like him are not only a personal loss to anyone who knew him, but also a greater loss to the field because of what he embodied and represented. He was a true activist [like Terry, Micky etc] he carried out his work without ego or self promotion, he got on with the work in hand, always focussed, always with love and compassion for his fellow human beings. Few people like him. "
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I met Ian in Maastricht at a hearing voices conference and again in Wales, I was always impressed by his humanity, humility and humour and moved by his real sense of caring about other people. Ian always kept in touch with me over the years and was a true friend of the hearing voices movment, I will miss him.
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Ian was my CPN for the past 4 years or so and has made the biggest difference in my life, nothing was ever too much trouble for him and he would go out of his way to help anyone and everyone who needed it. He operated an open door policy at his own home and you knew that no matter what you could always call on him for help support or advice. He introduced me to a support bed unit called Dryll Y Car which he himself had a major role in setting up but you wouldnt find him promoting himself or the work he did and it was while in Dryll that I got more help, he saw something in both myself and the staff there and knew they could help me. Tragically Ian passed away on 30th December 2008 while on his rounds, he knew he was ill but continued with his rounds as he didnt want to let anyone down. Something he had done before on a number of occasions, not least when he was bitten seriously by a dog he wouldnt go for much needed treatment but continued his appointments for the day. It was a serious dog bite and required plastic surgery and a lot of time off work but his first thought was for his clients. I should know it was my dog that bit him but he never let that alter our relationship and it was his dry sense of humour about this incident and many many more that made him almost universally loved and respected by his clients or as we viewed ourselves his friends. RIP mate, you saved my life and Im only sorry I didnt get chance to tell you that.
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Ian always kept in touch even after he moved back to Meirionnyd, he was manager at coedlys in llangefni for a short time, and the hergest after this which is when he was my key worker. ian was an amazing guy and never made you feel inadequite or worthless which had been my experience with key workers before. he completley help me change my life around. Icould not stay in the same room as any men before meeting ian. Ian dissmised my belief that all men where the same. he was like the father i should of had and i am so greatful to have known him. i will always remember you in everything i do. rest in peace Ian
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Ian will be sadly missed a great support of people in the system, also a great supporter of Asylum Magazine condolences to his family.