Doncaster doctor takes up top mental health post and speaks openly about his own battle with the illness

Dr Abdullah Kraam, a consultant psychiatrist, is set to play a key role in managing, promoting and co-ordinating mental health research across a huge chunk of north England.

He has been appointed as the child and adolescent mental health service research lead for the National Institute of Health Research’s Yorkshire clinical research network.

Since being appointed to his first consultant’s post in Leeds in 2004, Dr Kraam, aged 56, has worked with hundreds of young people with mental health problems.

He admits a bout of depression last year has helped him better understand what they are going through.

He said: “ I couldn’t work for three months and life was really difficult.

“However, the experience has had a profound effect on me and somehow allowed me to really connect with the patients and families I work with.

“Mental health issues can affect anyone and none of us should be frightened to talk about them or ask for help when we need it.

“Child psychiatry is a fascinating area of medicine to work in and a great privilege for me to meet and help children, young people and their families through challenging times.

“Research has been an important part of my career, so I am looking forward to helping increase our mental health knowledge base for the benefit of people living in Yorkshire and Humber.”

Alistair Hall, from the network, said “We welcome Dr Kraam into the leadership team knowing the expertise, passion and empathy that characterise him and his career will be a very great asset to us and to the broad community that we serve."

Dr Kraam will combine his new research role with his current post as consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with Doncaster CAMHS.

In 2018, Dr Kraam collected a British Citizens Award for his services to healthcare. The award recognises people who have made a positive impact on society.

He is also a honorary senior lecturer at the University of Leeds.